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rOE'YRIGHT DEPOSrr. 



The Suppressed Truth 

ABOUT THE 

ASSASSINATION 

OF 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Written and Compiled 

BY 

BURKE McCARTY 
1 922 



y6 



The Suppressed Truth 



ABOUT THE 



Assassination 



OF 



Abraham Lincoln 

Written and Compiled by 
BURKE McCARTY 

Lock Box 1618 Washington, D. C 



19 22 



V 



M^ 



s 



ICI.A67T370 



Dedicated to 
The Voters of To-morrow, 



Copyright 

-by- 
Burke McCarty, 
Lock Box 1618, Washington, D. C 
1922. 



m 30 IS22 



CONTENTS 



Page 

Introduction 9 

Chapter I. Destruction of this RepubUc Plotted 

by European Monarchists 11 

Chapter 11. The "Society of Jesus'', the Engine of 

Destruction 20 

Chapter III. "The Saint Leopold Foundation" Spy 

System —. 30 

Chapter IV. The Turning Point in Lincoln's Life.. 43 

Chapter V. When the Pope was King 64 

Chapter VI. Lincoln Takes up the Burden 76 

Chapter VQ. Assembling the Chosen Assassins.-. 97 

Chapter Vin. The Blackest Deed in American 

History - 126 

Chapter IX. The Trials of the Assassins by Docu- 
mentary Evidence 140 

Chapter X. The Trial of the Arch Conspiratoi-- 

John H. Surratt 167 

Chapter XL The Trial of John H. Surratt. 203 

Chapter XII. Summing it all up: Two and Two.. .231 




By the '^Leaden Bullet" 
April 14, 1865. 

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



8 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM UNCOLN 



*^i 




LINCOLN MEMORIAL, POTOMAC PARK, WASHINGTON, 

D. C 



One of the most magnificent monuments in the world, dedi- 
cated Memorial Day, 1922, to the great American the Jesuits 
thought they had destroyed on April 14, 1865. 



The Conspiracy of Silence on the Death 
of Abraham Lincoln 



INTRODUCTION 

In all the bloody history of the Papacy, perhaps 
in no one man, as in Abraham Lincoln, was there 
concentrated such a mutitude of reasons for his an- 
nihilation by that system. 

In all the history of the political assassination 
plots by the enemies of freedom, which for cold cal- 
culation, malicious methods, relentless pursuit, subtle 
cunning, and cowardly execution, nothing can exceed 
the cruel murder of this greatest of all Americans, — 
for President Lincoln was the living, breathing type 
in which was fulfilled the triumph of the New Con- 
cept of Popular Government, the central postulate of 
which is, the consent of the governed. It was the 
life of Abraham Lincoln which placed this form of 
government forever outside an "experiment*' where 
its enemies persisted in endeavoring to keep it. 

That a barefoot, nameless boy on poverty's path 
could, by his own efforts, reach the hi-^'h(v,t offi*^e 
in the gift of the American people, gave the lie to 
the "Divine Right" croakers, and merited it'.eir most 
unceasing harred. 

Barring the martyrdoms of Jesus Christ and 
Joan D' Arc, the methods used in Abraham Lincoln's 
assassination will stand pre-eminent in point of 
malice and cruelty, and strange as it may seem, the 
same diabolical cunning which nerved the hand of 
the assassin has pursued Lincoln beyond the grave, 
and has been largely successful in hiding from the 
public all details of his physical destruction, a crime, 
in the eyes of the writer, which almost outstrips the 
first, for by this conspiracy of silence on his death, 
the youth of America are being deprived of the knowl- 
edge of the details of the greatest tragedy in their 
country's history. 



10 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

This appalling fact has been the one big urge 
which inspired the writing of this book, the contents 
of which represent only a part of the result of leisure 
hours spent in public and private libraries in the va- 
rious cities, covering a period of the past seven years, 
— gathering a fact here and one there, from books, 
magazines, newspapers and court records, filing them 
away, and finally condensing the salient points be- 
tween the covers which you now hold in your h?»iid. 

I feel safe in stating that nowhere else can be 
found in one book the connected presentation cf the 
story leading up to the death of Abraham Lincoln, 
which was instigated by the "Black" pope, the General 
of the Jesuit Order, camouflaged by the "White'' pope, 
Pius IXth, aided, abetted and financed by other "Di- 
vine Righters" of Europe, and finally consummated by 
the Roman Hierarchy and their paid agents in this 
country and Canada on "Good Friday" night, April 
14th, 1865, at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D. C. 

I am convinced that if this knowledge can be 
given adequate distribution and placed in possession 
of the boys and girls of the public elementary schools, 
for whom it is esDecially designed to reach, that the 
wicked boast of the Jesuits and their lay agents, the 
Kniffhts of Columbus, to "MAKE AMERICA CATHO- 
LIC*' can never be accomplished. 

THE GREAT SPIRIT OF THE MARTYRED LIN- 
COLN WILL RISE UP AND DEFEAT HIS SLAY- 
ERS AND THEIR SUCCESSORS! 

In closing, I only ask each reader whose heart 
beats in unison with those of us who love our country 
and all that it represents, to assist in the sale of this 
little book, by giving it all the publicity possible, there- 
by joining in President Lincoln's expression of loyalty, 
"If ever my country is destroyed, it shall be mv proud- 
est plume, not that I was the last to desert her, but 

that I NEVER DESERTED HER!" 

Yours Truly, 

Burke McCarty 



Chapter I. 

Destruction of this Republic Plotted by 
European Monarchists. 



The death of President Lincoln was the culmina- 
tion of but one step in the attempt to carry out the 
Secret Treaty of Verona, of October, 1822, a pact 
entered into by the "high contracting parties" of the 
former Congress of Vienna, Austria, which had held 
its sessions secret, covering the whole year of 1814-15. 

Simultaneously with the calling of the Congress of 
Vienna in 1814, Pope Pius Vllth restored the Society 
of Jesus (Jesuit Order) which had been abolished by 
Pope Clement IVth, July 21, 1773, on the grounds 
that it was immoral, dangerous and was a menace 
to the very life of the papacy. Clement was promptly 
poisoned for his act. 

With the restoration of this order, the execution 
of the Secret Treaty of Verona was placed in their 
keeping. 

The Congress of Vienna was a black conspiracy 
against Popular Governments at which the "high con- 
tracting parties'" announced at its close that they 
had formed a "holy alliance." This was a cloak under 
which they masked to deceive the people. The par- 
ticular business of the Congress of Verona, it de- 
veloped, was the RATIFICATION of Article Six of 
the Congress of Vienna, which was in short, a prom- 
ise to prevent or destroy Popular Governments wher- 
ever found, and to re-establish monarchy where it 
had been set aside. 

The "high contracting parties" of this compact 
which were Russia, Prussia, Austria and the Pope, 
JPius Vnth, king of the Papal States, entered into 



12 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

a secret treaty to do so. That the reader may get 
some idea of the villainy of these two Congresses 
and their relation to our government^ and to the 
death of Abraham Lincoln, I quote excerpts from 
that document below, as it appears on the Congres- 
sional Record of April 25, 1916, placed there by Sena- 
tor Robt. L. Owen and as it is recorded in the Diplo- 
matic Code, by Elhott, page 179: 

SECRET TREATY OF VERONA 

The undersigned specially authorized to make 
some additions to the treaty of the Holy Alliance, 
after having exchanged their respective creden- 
tials, have agreed as follows: 

ARTICLE 1. The high contracting powers be- 
ing convinced that the system of representative 
government is equally as incompatible with the 
monarchial principals as the maxim of the sov- 
ereignity of the people with the divine right, 
engage mutually, in the most solemn manner to 
use all their efforts to put an end to the system 
of representative governments, in whatever 
country it may exist in Europe, and to prevent its 
being introduced in those countries where it is 
not yet known. 

ARTICLE 2. As it cannot be doubted that 
the liberty of the press is the most powerful 
means used by the pretended supporters of the 
rights of nations to the detriment of those of 
princes, the hi^h contracting parties promise re- 
ciprocally to adopt all proper measures TO SUP- 
PRESS IT, NOT ONLY IN THEIR OWN STATE 
BUT ALSO IN THE REST OF EUROPE. 

ARTICLE 3. Convinced that the principles of 
religion contribute most powerfully to keep na- 
tions in the state of passive obedience which 
they owe to their princes, the high contracting 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 13 

parties declare it to be their intention to sustain 
in their respective states, those measures which 
the clergy may adopt with the aim of amelior- 
ating their own interests, so intimately connect- 
ed with the preservation of the authority of the 
princes; and the contracting powers join in offer- 
ing THEIR THANKS TO THE POPE FOR 
WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THEM, 
AND SOLICIT HIS CONSTANT COOPERATION 
IN THEIR VIEWS OF SUBMITTING THE 
NATIONS. 

ARTICLE 4. The situation of Spain and Port- 
ugal unite unhappily all the circumstances to 
which this treaty has particular reference. The 
high contracting parties, in confiding to France 
the care of putting an end to them, engaged to 
assist her in the manner which may at least 
compromise them with their own people and the 
people of France by means of a subsidy on the 
part of the two empires of 20,000,000 of francs 
every year from the date of signature of this 
treaty to the end of the war. 

ARTICLE 5. In order to establish in ^he 
peninsula the order of things which existed be- 
fore the revolution of Cadiz, and to insure the en- 
tire execution of the articles of the present 
treaty, the high contracting parties give to each 
other the reciprocal assurance that as long as 
their views are not fulfilled, rejecting all other 
ideas of futility or other measure to be taken, 
they will address themselves with the shortest 
possible delay to all the authorities existing in 
their states and to all their agents in foreign 
countries, with the view to establish connections 
tending toward the accomplishment of the objects 
proposed by this treaty. 



14 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ARTICLE 6. This treaty shall be renewed 
with such changes as new circumstances may g've 
occasion for, either at a new congress, or at the 
court of one of the contracting parties, as soon 
as the war with Spain shall be terminated. 

ARTICLE 7. The present treaty shall be rati- 
fied and the ratifications exchanged at Paris within 
the space of six months. 

Made at Verona the 22nd of November, 1822. 
For Austria: Mettemich 
For France: Chateaubrand. 
For Russia: Bernstet. 
For Russia : Nesselrode." 

When Senator Owen was questioned by members 
of Congress upon the meaning of the Treaty, the 
Record shows his reply in part as follows: 

"This Holy Alliance, having put a Bourbon 
prince upon the throne of France by force, then 
used France to suppress the condition of Spain, 
immediately afterwards, and by this very treaty 
gave her a subsidy of 20,000,000 francs annually 
to enable her to wage war upon the people of 
Spain and prevent their exercise of any measure 
of the right of self-government. The Holy Alli- 
ance immediately did the same thing in Italy, 
by sending Austrian troops to Italy, where 
the people there attempted to exercise a like 
measure of liberal constitutional self-gov- 
ernment; and it was not until the printing press, 
which the Holy Alliance so stoutly opposed, 
taught the people of Europe the value of lib- 
erty that finally one country after another seized 
a greater and greater right of self-government, 
until now it may be fairly said that nearly all the 
nations of Europe have a very large measure of 
self -government. 

However, I WiShed to call the attention of the 
Senate to this important history in the growth 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 15 

of constitutional popular self-government. The 
Holy Alliance made its powers felt by the whole- 
sale drastic suppression of the press in Europe, 
by universal censorship, by killing free speech and 
all ideas of popular rights, and by the complete 
suppression of popular government. The Holy Al- 
liance having destroyed popular government in 
Spain, and in Italy, had well-laid plans also to de- 
stroy popular government in the American Col- 
onies which had revolted from Spain and Portugal 
in Central and South America under the influ- 
ence of the successful example of the United 
States." 

"It was because of this conspiracy against the 
American Republics by the European monarchies 
that the great English stateman. Canning, called 
the attention of our government to it, and our 
statesmen then, including Thomas Jefferson, who 
was still living at that time, took an active part 
to bring about the declaration by President Mon- 
roe in his next annual message to the Congress 
of the United States that the United States would 
regard it as an act of hostility to the government 
of the United States and an unfriendly act, it 
this coalition, or if any power of Europe ever 
undertook to establish upon the Aineri'^an ron- 
tinent any ccnirol of any American republic, or to 
acquire any tt i ? itr.rial rights. 

"This is the so-called Monroe Doctrine. The 
threat under the secret treaty of Verona to sup- 
press popular government in the American repub- 
lics is the basis of the Monroe Doctrine. This se- 
cret treaty sets forth clearly the conflict between 
monarchial government and popular government, 
and the government of the few as against the gov- 
ernment of the many." 

The above comments of our United States Senator 
before Congress in 1916, clearly defines the object and 
intent of these "Divine Righters" in Europe. 



16 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

It will be well for the reader to understand that 
the church of Rome with its sixteen centuries of in- 
trigue, plans fifty or a hundred years ahead. The ulti- 
mate goal of the GREAT SCHEME is to throw the 
lever of time back by restoring the Pope as the "uni- 
versal arbiter" from whom all the rulers of the earth 
must receive their authority to rule, as during the 
Dark Ages. 

The BIG n)EA of democracy, taught by Jesus 
Christ when he proclaimed the spiritual equality of 
all men, has always been hated and feared by the Je- 
suit System, and made the target of their venom, de- 
spite all their protestations of Christianity 

The IDEA of spiritual equality, logically and in- 
evitably leads to social equality which has been made 
practical by Popular Governments. 

The central Idea of Popular Government is "con- 
sent of the governed." 

The first real social freedom resulted from the 
Protestant Reformation, led by the little German 
monk, Martin Luther, in 1517. This was an unpardon- 
able sin, — this was the death blow of the Papacy. 

Protestant Germany, Protestant England, and of 
course, Protestant United States, have been from the 
beginning marked by them for destruction. Ex-Cath- 
olic Italy and Ex-Catholic France are next in this 
"rule or ruin"* policy. In Protestant Denmark, Sweden 
and Holland, the same process of "working from 
within," is being pursued as it is in this country and 
Canada. 

The seeds of hate between Germany and England 
were planted in those two glorious Protestant coun- 
tries by the Jesuits so that they miprht develop in 
time to block the celebration of the Protestant Refor- 
mation on its four hundredth Anniversary, — ^an event 
which was planned to surpass anything of the kind 
the world has ever seen, a celebration which would 
have set Protestantism fifty years ahead. 

The Jesuits, anticipating this, staged the World 
(War which completely sidetracked it. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 17 

For over sixty years the Great Scheme the Vati- 
can and its Jesuits have been working on is, in a nut- 
shell, to form an ECCLESIASTICAL EMPIRE, unit- 
ing French Canada with our Atlantic States, Maine, 
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachesetts, Rhode Is- 
land and Connecticut. This is to be done by annexa- 
tion, manipulated through corrupt politicians at Wash- 
ington, D. C, in much the same method as the annexa- 
tion of Texas was accomplished, over sixty years ago. 

The next big card being played by Rome is the 
unification of the French Canadian and Irish-Catholic 
vote in the New England States where the influx of 
Catholic Canadians is of such proportion as to cause 
serious consideration of loyal Americans right now. 

The Church is meeting with some difficulty, owing 
to the deep seated dislike between the French and 
Irish Catholics. This, however, is being rapidly over- 
come by two methods: intermarriage and through the 
work of the Knights of Columbus which is by far the 
most dangerous lay organization in this country. 

The 'Tragedy of Quebec," a book written by 
a Protestant Canadian, exposes the PLAN in detail, 
and the facts and figures given by this writer who has 
been a close student of the subject for many years are 
startling. 

It would be illuminating to the reader who is not 
familiar with this book to read it. The full plan of 
extending the Pope's empire on the Atlantic coast will 
be done by Latinizing our Southern States, a process 
which was begun very early in our history, prior 
to the Civil War. 

The big efforts of the Catholic Church to papalize 
the negro in the South should not be overlooked where 
great strides have been taken in that direction. 

The next step in the Vatican's Great Scheme is 
to make war between this country and Japan after 
the latter country has been placed under full domi- 
nance of the Jesuits. The priests, monks and nuns of 
the Roman Church have been pouring into Japan from 



18 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

all over the world now for many years with that 
purpose in view. The writer was told by a Christian 
Japanese minister in charge of a Protestant mission 
in Los Angeles in reply to the question as to why the 
Jesuits, who had been barred for years from Japan, 
had now been permitted to enter. He answered that 
the Roman church had gotten into his country under 
the guise of Mohammedanism, and that after it was 
well entrenched threw off its disguise, and his coun- 
try learned to its astonishment that it was to the 
Roman Church and its monastic orders it had opened 
its doors. 

That the Roman-Catholic-controlled trade unions 
in California are at the bottom of most of the agitation 
against the Japanese in that State is a fact; that the 
Roman Catholic politician, James Phelan, was sent to 
the United States Senate in 1913 by the solid Roman 
vote, and has been the prime mover in the anti-Jap 
agitation, is also a fact. 

There are many Californians, of course, outside 
the Roman church, who fear the Japanese menace on 
account of their prolific propagation, and their non- 
assimilative proclivities, but it is only since I have 
realized the activity of the Jesuits to papalize Japan, 
that the real horror of the "yellow peril" has impressed 
itself upon me. Add Romanism to Japan, and it cer- 
tainly becomes terrifying in its aspect. 

L am not presenting these things as a calamity 
howler, but I believe V\^ith careful consideration and 
immediate intelligent activity, the danger can be avert- 
ed. We must be alert and doing. And now we will take 
up the Roman question which is the big, overshadow- 
ing world question today, and it will continue to be un- 
til the Papacy is finally uprooted. We will have to 
take cognizance of it in Europe frequently through 
these pages in order to get a clear view of the impend- 
ing danger to ourselves. I ask the reader to be patient 
and follow me closely in my hurdling of the Atlantic, 
back and forth, at various times which I have been 
obliged to do, I^ is a big and p^^rplexing question to 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 19 

try to simplify sufficiently for the busy non-Romanist 
who is so absorbed in his own affairs and who so little 
understands that pernicious system. 

The great mistake which the American non-Cath- 
olic people make is that they judge the Papacy by the 
Roman Church as they find it in this country. One can- 
not gauge it from this standpoint, for we must re- 
member that it is operating where more than five- 
sixths of the people are non-Romanists — in a Prot- 
estant country. In order to get an accurate estimate 
one must survey it in its native state, so to speak, — 
in Catholic countries where it has held sway for cen- 
turies. On this side of the Atlantic, for instance, we 
will have to contemplate it, as it is in Mexico, or Cen- 
tral and South America, in order to get a true esti- 
mate. 

I shall quote through these pages copiously from 
several books, some of which are out of print, in or- 
der that their messages may not be entirely lost. 



Chapter II. 

The ''Society of Jesus'' the Engine of 
Destruction. 



The "Society of Jesus" the members of which are 
referred to as the Jesuits, has absorbed the Papacy. 
This Society was founded by a fanatic, one Ignatius 
Loyola, in 1541; its object being to combat the Prot- 
estant Reformation of Martin Luther of 1517. 

Loyola was the son of a prominent Spanish family 
who had distinguished himself as a soldier, and by the 
immoral excesses of his private life, but who, owing 
to an accident which maimed him, was supposed to 
have become "converted." and during the illness which 
followed, the Socie+v nf Jesus w^as conceived in his 
brain, fertile with deviltry. 

The Society of Jesus is under the strictest mili- 
tary discipline, due to ^he military training and psy- 
choloerv of its founder. It is absolutely commanded bv 
the "Gf^^eral'* its head, also Vnown 3s the "Black" 
Pope. The garb is always a plain black cassock. But 
here permit me to present the definition of one of its 
eminent "Generals" of the seventeenth century and 
which aptly describes it today: 

"The members of the Society are dispersed 
in every corner of the world, and divided into as 
many nations and kine-doms as the earth has lim- 
its: divisions, however, marked only bv distance 
•f places, not of sentiment: bv the differences of 
lano-uages. not of affections: by the dissemblance 
of faces, not of manners. In that family the Latin 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 21 

thinks as the Greek, the Portugese as the Brazil- 
lian, the Hibernian as the Sumatran, the Spanish 
as the French, the English as the Flemish; and 
amongst so many different geniuses, no contro- 
versy, no contention, nothing which gives you a 
hint, to perceive that they have more than one. 

Their birthplace offers them no motive of 

personal interest;. The same aim, same conduct, 
same VOW, which like a conjugal knot, has tied 
them together. At the least sign one man, the 
General, turns and returns the entire society and 
shapes the revolution of so large a body. 

"It is easy to move, but difficult to shape." 
(Imago Primsaeculi Societas Jesu," published by 
the p.nthorifeation of Mutto Vittelschi, General 
in 1640.) 

With the above authentic illumination you will 
be able to somewhat grasp the reason that the execu- 
tion of the mandate of the Holy Alliance and secret 
treaty of Verona was entrusted to the members of the 
Society of Jesus. God save the mark! 

THE JESUIT OATH 

As a further item of interest we quote the fol- 
lowing excerpts of this oathbound organization. It is 
the oath taken now by practically all priests of the 
Church of Rome, and has been charged as the one tak- 
en by the members of the Fourth Degree in the 
Knights of Columbus. (See Conprressional Record, 
House Bill 15f?.S, Cor>fpsted pleotion casp of Eugene C. 
Bonniwell. against Thos. S. Butler, Feb. 15, 1913, 
pages 3215-16.) 

**1 now in the presence 

of Almie-hty God. the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 
Blessed Michael the Archangel, the Blessed St. 
.Tohn the T^^^ptist. the Holv Anostles, Ppter and 
Paul, and all the Saints, sacred hosts of Heaven, 
and to vou. my orhostlv Father, the Snnerior Gen- 
eral of the Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ig- 



22 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

natius Loyola, in the Pontification of Paul the 
Third, and continued to the present, do by the 
womb of the Virgin, the matrix of God, and the 
rod of Jesus Christ, declare and swear that his 
holiness, the Pope, is Christ's Vice-regent, and is 
the true and only head of the Catholic or Univer- 
sal Church throughout the earth ; and that by the 
virtue of the keys of binding and loosing, given to 
his Holiness by my Savior, Jesus Christ, he hath 
power to depose heretical kings, princes, states, 
commonwealths and governments, all being illegal 
without his sacred confirmation, and that they 
may be safely destroyed. 

"Therefore, to the utmost of my power, I 
shall and will defend this doctrine and his Holi- 
ness' right and customs against all usurpers of 
the heretical or Protestant authority, whatever, 
especially the Lutheran Church of Germany, Hol- 
land, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and the 
now pretended authority of the Church of En- 
gland and Scotland, the branches of the same, now 
established in Ireland, and on the continent of 
America and elsewhere .... I do now renounce and 
disown any allegiance as due to any heretical kinj?. 
prince or state named Protestant or Liberals, or 
obedience to any of their laws^ magistrates or 
officers. 

"I do further declare, that I will help and 
assist and advise all or any of his Holiness' agents 
in any place wherever I shall be, and do my ut- 
most to extirpate the heretical Protestant or Lib- 
eral docti'ines and to destroy all their pretended 
powers, les'al or otherwise. 

"I do further promise and declare, that not- 
withstanding- I am dispensed with to assume any 
relijarion heretical for the propogatinp- of the 
'Mother Church's interest, to keep secret and Dri- 
vate all her asrents' counsels, from time to time 
as they may instruct me, and not to divulge di- 
rectly or indirectly, by word, writing, or cir- 



ASSASSIlNS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN Z6 

cumstances whatever; but to execute all that shall 
be proposed, given m charge or discoverea unto 
me, by you, my ghostiy latner 

"I ao turtner promise and declare, that I will 
have no opinion or win oi my own, or any mental 
reservation whatever, even as a corpse or cadaver 
(perinde ac cadaver) but unhesitatingly obey 
each and every command that 1 may receive trom 
my superiors in the Militia ot the i'ope and Jesus 
Christ. 

*That I will go to any part of the world, 
whatsoever, witnouc murmuring and will be sub- 
missive in all things whatsoever communicatea 

to me I do further promise and declare, 

that I will, when opportunity presents, make and 
wage relentless war, secretly or openly, against 
all heretics, Protestants and Liberals, as I am 
directed to do to extirpate and exterminate them 
from the face of the whole earth, and that I will 
spare neither sex, age nor condition; and that I 
will hang, waste, boil, flay, strangle and bury 
alive these infamous heretics ; rip up the stomachs 
and wombs of their women and crush their in- 
fants' heads against the wall, in order to anni- 
hilate forever their execrable race. 

'That when the same cannot be done openly, 
I will secretly use the POISON CUP, THE 
STRANGULATION CORD, THE STEEL OF THE 
POINARD, OR THE LEADEN BULLET, RE- 
GARDLESS OF THE HONOR, RANK, DIGNITY 
OR AUTHORITY OF THE PERSON OR PER- 
SONS WHATSOEVER MAY BE THEIR CONDI- 
TION IN LIFE, EITHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, 
AS I AT ANY TIME MAY BE DIRECTED SO 
TO DO BY ANY AGENT OF THE POPE OR SU- 
PERIOR OF THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE 
HOLY FAITH OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS/' 



24 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The late Edwin A. Sherman, a 33rd Degree Mason 
of Oakland, Cahtornia, m nis book entitlea, "The iiin- 
gmeer Corps oi Men," quotes Unas. ^Sauvestre, whose 
work he translated irom the Spanisn, whicn says m 
part: 

*'Such are the Jesuits. Always expelled, for- 
ever returning, ana iictle uy iittie, cianaestinely, 
and in the darkness, throwing out its vigorous 
roots. Its wealtn may De confiscated, its losses 
cannot be detained ior tney are covered. . . Con- 
fessors, negotiators, brokers, ienaers, peddlers of 
pious gew gaws, inventors ol new devotions to 
make merchandise. At times, mixing in polities, 
agitating states, and making princes tremble up- 
on their thrones, tor they are terrible in their 
hate. WOE UNTO HIM WHEN THEY TURN 

UPON HIM AS AN ENEMY! Its society 

grows and increases in riches and influence by 
all sorts of means; and no one can attack them, 
for everywhere we find men prompt to serve 
them, to obtain from them some advantage of 
position or pride .... For themselves, they are 
nothing, not having pompous titles, no croziers, 
no mitres, no capes of the prebendaries, but per- 
tain to that one ORDER, everywhere governing 
and directing ... In whatever place of the Catho- 
lic world a Jesuit is insulted or resisted, no matter 
how insignificant he may be, he is sure to be 
avenged, — and this we know." 

*The General is always surrounded by coun- 
sellors, professors, novices and graduates," says 
Michelet . . . 'prescribing friendship in the semi- 
naries and being prohibited to walk two by two, it 
is necessary to be alone, or three together, but not 
less, for it is well known that the Jesuits never 
establish any intimacy before a third, for the 
third is a spy ; for when there are three, which is 
indispensable, there cannot be found a traitor/' 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 25 

THE JESUIT OATH TAKEN BY THE FIRST ARCH- 
BISHOP OF BALTIMORE (1769) LEAVES 
ITS IMPRESS 

The papal church when expedient, follows the 
rule of pagan Rome to hold a conquered country in 
leash, and make it yield its pound of flesh, by placing 
over it native rulers, v/hich is the easy way to ap- 
proach the people on their blind side. 

In 1753 an American-born boy of eighteen, one 
John Carroll, from Upper Marborough, Maryland, en- 
tered the College of the Society of Jesuits at Watteau, 
Flanders, to study for the Romish priesthood in that 
Order. The time required ordinarily for the training 
in that Society, is fourteen years, and, as John Carroll 
was not ordained until he had served sixteen years in 
preparation, it is safe to conclude that this American 
born youth was an especially well grounded "Cadaver" 
upon his return to the Colonies in 1769, and that his 
Society was justified in feeling that its interests would 
be competently administered. 

John Carroll had taken the oath from which we 
quoted some pages back, to, When opportunity pre- 
sents, make and wage relentless war, secretly or openly, 
against all heretics, Protestants and Liberals." 

It is interesting to note that John Carroll was a 
first cousin to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only . 
Romanist who signed the Declaration of Independence. 

The officials of Maryland Colony sent a committee, 
of which Beniamin Franklin was a member, to visit 
FVench Canada to see if help could be had from that 
source in the interest of the Colonies in the coming 
conflict with England. 

It was recommended by Congress that Charles 
Carroll ask his cousin, John Carroll, the Jesuit priest, 
to accompany them, hoping that he would use his in- 
fluence in securing the assistance of the French priests 
in the Cause of the Colonies, an act which showed the 



26 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

lack of understanding of the fundamentals and disci- 
pline of the Jesuit Society, by the Colonists. 

Of course, the expedition utterly failed, owing to 
the influence of the French priests and the people of 
French Canada, over whom * 'Father" John Carroll was 
supposed to have had the power of persuasion. Though 
England was an "heretical'' country, the exceedingly 
liberal and the independent spirit of defiance in the 
American Colonies, was far more menacing, in the eyes 
of the priests, to the interests of the church and the di- 
vine righters, and Priest Carroll's Jesuit Oath pre- 
cluded the possibility of his having any interest in his 
native country, consequently he had to think in the 
same channel as his French compatriots in religion. 
That he, a few years later, merited the distinction from 
his church to be made the first Archbishop of Balti- 
more, and was permitted to live to the ripe old age 
of four score years, is proof positive that he served 
his church faithfully by strictlv adhering to his Jesuit 
Oath. The first Archbishop of Baltimore left his indeli- 
ble stamp on that diocese as was clearly demonstrated 
during the Civil War, for every plot to assassinate 
President Lincoln, and there were many, was hatched 
in Baltimore. — in fact, Baltimore is the Vienna of 
America. 

The fact also must not be overlooked, that there 
were less than 30,000 Romanists and 25 priests in 
the Colonies at the breaking out of the Revolution. 
This, of course, was a handicap to the Reverend Car- 
roll. 

The first Archbishop of Baltimore must have 
been, however, thoroughly conversant with the 
rumblings of the Revolution in Furope, for his Society 
was having some "rough sledding" durino- the earlv 
eighteenth centurv when he arrived in Flanders, and 
its members were being driven out of first one country 
and then another. 

The great battle for political freedom was bein<^ 
bitterly wasred between the Jesuits on one hand and 
Freemasonry on the other, just as in the final ana,ly> 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 27 

sis of the present irrepressible conflict in the United 
States today, these two forces are lining up, a fact 
which is becoming more obvious as time goes on. 

They stand today as they have always stood, 
these Jesuits, against every principle upon which 
Jh'reemasonry is founded — upon which Americanism 
is based. 

A group of French cyclopedists, led by Jean 
Jacques Rousseau, had embodied a new concept of 
governmentj^ in which the central postulate was, that 
the only authority to govern should come from the 
consent of the governed. This was whipped into shape 
and published early in the eighteenth century and 
boldly proclaimed to the world by Rousseau in his 
"Social Contract" — contract of society. Eleven years 
after, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and other 
framers of our Declaration of Independence, incor- 
porated it in that great chart of liberty, and when the 
silver tones of our old Liberty Bell in Philadelphia 
rang it out on July 4th, 1776, it reverberated around 
the world and stirred the red blood of every divine- 
right hater to its depths: 

^'Gravely plain the good pen lined it, 
And the Fifty Six all signed it; 
Pledged their lives to seal and bind it, 

True and well! 
Then sudden from the steeple, 
Clanged the tocsin of the people, Mu.. . 

Spoke the sum of history's pages, 
Pealed the thoughts of saints and sages, 

Rang the keynote of the ages, — in the Bell." 
("The Liberty Bell" by Howard S. Taylor.) 

It is difficult now for us to realize the boldness 
and courage required of that little group of Colonial 
"Rebels" who gathered around the table in Indepen- 
dence Hall in Philadelphia, to sign that document. It 
was a grim joke, indeed, that Benjamin Franklin 
sprung when he took up the pen to write in his 
name, and said: "Gentlemen, we must now all hang 
together, for if we don't, we will hang separately." 



28 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The success of the Revolution in the American 
Colonies gave the stimulation to the f'rench to revolt 
m 1789. rne triumpnant conclusion of John Wilkes' 
battle for a free press in England, the rumblings of 
revolt m the rapal btates wnere tne pope was King, 
all these held the cradle oi Popular Government in 
this country m security until the infant had dropped 
its swaddling clothes, and got a fair start to grow. 

John Carroll was studying in the Jesuit College 
in Flanders when Rousseau's Social Contract set Eu- 
rope ablaze with its message to the downtrodden 
masses. The sensation precipitated by that revolu- 
tionary proclamation can be but faintly imagined 
now. Certain it is that the pope of Rome with the rest 
of the crown heads of Europe saw the handwriting on 
the wall, II the New idea oi government were per- 
mitted to take root. 

Four years later John Carroll was a full-fledged 
Jesuit priest, and was returned to his native land where 
he had an opportunity to get a "close-up" of the work- 
ing out of the first Popular Government where the peo- 
ple were the only source of authority. 

In 1808 this Jesuit priest was created the first 
Archbishop of Baltimore, by his "Lord-God" the pope. 
In receiving the pallium he took a more disloyal oath 
of allegiance than that as a priest, to direct the work 
of his Order and his church. 

Verily, "The ways of God are wondrous strange." 
Who would have thought that a few months later an 
infant son would be born to a pioneer couple in the 
backwoods of Kentucky, in a rude log hut, who was 
destined to, fifty years later, with one blow, defeat the 
cautiously laid plans of the Vatican, its Jesuits, the 
Romanoffs of Russia, the Hapsburgs of Austria and 
the King of Prussia! 

I have often pictured the baby Lincoln playing 
about the humble log cabin in the Kentucky woods, 
whose life was no different from the infant life of 
other children of the pioneers, except in the greater 
degree of poverty, and wondered if by chance in her 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 29 

day dreams, Nancy Hanks Lincoln could have 
gnmpsed the perspective m which her baby boy was 
destined to become the savior of this Popular Govern- 
ment; if, when she gathered him to her proud moth- 
erly heart, quieting him to sleep with a crooning lulla- 
by, which all mothers sing, the noble but storm-tossed 
future of the child she snuggled might by chance, like 
summer lightning, have flashed over her vision? And, 
in my mind's eye, I pictured the meeting on the other 
side of the Great Divide of this mother and son on the 
morning of April 15th, 1865, and the happy look of 
triumph in her glistening eyes as she beheld him in 
the immortal garb of martyrdom which his enemies 
had inadvertently placed upon him. 



Chapter ni. 

''The Saint Leopold Foundation'' Spy 

System. 

Owing to the \ combination of circumstances 
Europe just referred to, the autocrats did not 
dare to "wage open war" on this government since 
the warning enunciated in the Monroe Doctrine. In 
1828 an organization in Vienna was formed which was 
called the '*Saint Leopold Foundation." The plan was 
then, to operate under the mask of religion, 
which would insure its safety from any governmental 
and innuendo what could not be done by bullets and 
and, innuendo what could not be done by bullets and 
bayonets. 

The Hapsburg family of Austria was the most 
powerful Roman Catholic ruling family in Europe and 
consequently the most cruel, despotic and reactionary, 
and had the American people not been so absorbed 
in the upbuilding of the Republic, they would have 
detected the hypocrisy of this ''holy" fraud, — the 
Saint Leopodine Foundation. 

One of the Hapsburg brothers. Prince Rudolph, 
was a member of the Roman Curia, the Cardinal Ru- 
dolph Hapsburg, of Olmutz. It was easy for the Jesuits 
of the Vatican to operate through him as the agent 
for the foundation funds which poured into the United 
States in a stream of gold. Nor did the Vatican furnish 
all the funds. They were most likely furnished by the 
"high contracting parties," of the Holy Alliance and 
the "secret treaty of Verona." In short, the immense 
sums distributed among the bishops and archbishops 
of the Catholic church in this country in estab- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 31 

lishing bishoprics in cities where none existed, were 
used solely as gigantic POLmCAL SLUSH FUNDS 
to corrupt and ultimately destroy the government and 
''set up a monarchial" one instead. 

One year after the Saint Leopoldine Foundation 
had been established, it received the recognition and 
blessing of the pope. The wonderful generosity (?) 
of the Hapsburg family was called to his attention. 
The "blessing" was conveyed at a political high mass 
in Vienna, January, 1829, at which all of the royalty 
was in attendance, and the happy occasion was closed 
by a grand ball in the palace at night. 

The scum of Catholic Europe, especially from 
Ireland, then began pouring- into this country from 
every nook and cranny of that poverty stricken con- 
tinent; in many cases, their nassages being advanced 
from this "slush fund." The Koman bishops of every 
large city from New York to San Francisco, then be- 
gan massing this fcreis-n vote. 

Tammany Hall had years before been organized, 
and from its very inception began a system of po- 
litical corruption which dominates New York's poli- 
tics to this very day. This situation should have stag- 
gered the world, but it failed to awaken the Ameri- 
can people except in spots. 

The massed Foinan vote in the cities placed the 
balance of noli^ical power in th^ hnnds of the Roman 
bishops and priests. Intimidation has always been 
the "bier stick" used when any m^n in public office 
presumed to opnose the advance of these ecclesiasti- 
cal "bosses." With the rapidly increased foreign im- 
migration, these agents of the divine righters of Eu- 
rope operating through the Jesuits and their lay 
agents have made nrogress beyond their wildest 
dreams. City councils, state legislatures, and even 
Congress have been brow-beaten and bribed. It was 
boasted within a year that any seat in Congress can 
be bought for one hundred thousand dollars! Not 
only so, but some years ago when the Chicago Con- 



32 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

gressman, Wm. Lorimer's seat was contested, it was 
made a matter of record that this sum was the pur- 
chase price. A forced resignation followed. It is in- 
teresting to note that Mr. Lorimer's chief witness 
was a Catholic priest of Chicago, who testified, ac- 
cording to the Associated Press reports, that a peni- 
tent of his, had acknowledged in the confessional, that 
he had libeled Mr. Lorimer. The said penitent was not 
named, of course. 

A few months after Mr. Lorimer's resignation, 
the press dispatches notified us that he "had been 
received into the Catholic Church" with great ac- 
claim. I cite this one case merely to emphasize my 
point. 

The Saint Leopoldine Foundation is a great Jesuit 
Spy System which is not confined to the ecclesiastics 
of the Roman church, but embraces every element of 
society, from the private secretary of the President in 
the White House, to the Catholic servant girl em- 
ployed in the Protestant American families. Nor, in- 
deed, is it restricted to Roman Catholics, for the Jes- 
uits do not hesitate to use non-Catholic tools whenever 
it is possible. In fact, they prefer them, for in this way 
attention is distracted from them. In case of failure 
it is always preferable to use non-Catholics. 

The priest of everv parish in this country is the 
king-pin in this web of spying, and reports regularly 
to his bishop every item of interest, directly or indirect- 
Iv and in turn, the bishoD to his archbishop, the arch- 
bishop to the cardinal ard the cardinal to the pope. 
The confessional box is the Roman clearing house, 
whereby the Pope keeps his finger on the pulse of the 
world. 

It is a strange thing to know that no matter how 
densely ignorant a Roman priest mav be, that is on 
any subject outside thp things bear in pr on his church, 
that priest knows perfectly the psychology of every 
non-Romanist of anv prominence in his district. He 
knows his mental attitude toward the Romish church ; 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 33 

he knows what the man will think and do under cer- 
tain circumstances; he particularly knows if he is 
friendly or unfriendly to the Roman church ; he knows 
the extent of his wealth, and if the party is of enough 
importance in the community, he knows the most in- 
timate details and conduct of his private life. The man, 
on the other hand, knows little or nothing of the par- 
ish priest. More than likely, if he was asked, he would 
say that he was the Catholic priest of such a parish. 
If it happened to be in a town where the Catholic pop- 
ulation was small and of no social or political impor- 
tance, this would express the limit of his knowledge. 
If, on the other hand, he was politically ambitious and 
alert, the priest would be one of the first with whom 
he would ingratiate himself, for most of the politicians 
have learned to realize the political advantage of an 
organized vote. 

The sources of information which the Roman 
priest can tat) are almost unlimited and unknown to 
the ordinary layman outside that corporation. The Le- 
oDoldines are honeycombed in every avenue of civic, 
state and national life. There are, to begin with, the 
police departments of the various cities, ninety per 
cent of whom I may, I think, conservatively sav, are 
Fourth Deorree Kniofhts of Columbus. Thev are always 
at the beck and call of the heirarchy. Their chief duty 
as "Catholic citizens'* is to obev their bishops and the 
Holy See. "As God himself." (See Leo Xlllth's "Great 
Enc'^^'^hVale" page 192.) 

Then there are their Jesuit college graduates^ in 
every state, who are especiallv trained as expert spies. 

If any man holding a political position refuses to 
prostitute that position, by yielding to the demands 
of th'^ Romish r>ripsts. and pprsists in his stand, thev 
use their blackmail threats, if thev cannot accomplish 
their nurpose in any other way, for, "Any means to 
a^ end" is the Jesuit vnnHo. If there is no such knowl- 
pHqca in thpir T)ossp«?sion ^v ^vhich to discredit or 
■frighten him, thev do not hesitate to set their traps 
for him, and should this fail, they are fortified to re- 



34 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

sort to what is known in common parlance as a 
"frame-up" which is an easy matter through their 
"red-light" affiliations. Many a good man has been 
driven from public life by this route. Many a man in 
politics this moment, is a subservient tool of the Roman 
priests, because he fears the physical violence of their 
arson and murder gangs, or that they may drag out 
some family skeleton to discredit him. 

I am aware that these are harsh sayings, but 
the truth is very often shocking. 

The principal branches of the Leopoldines, still 
operating in this country under various titles, are: 
The German Catholic Central Verein, with headouai^- 
ters in St. Louis and Detroit; The Third Order of St. 
Francis, which bids fair to supplant, outwardly at 
least, the original organization ; The Catholic Laymen's 
Council, the Lea""ue of the Sacred Heart, and the Cath- 
olic Women^s Council. These organizations are all 
branches of the Leoooldines' Spy Svstem. 

To name one incident in which the ramification of 
this spy system may be seen, T call to the mind of those 
of my readers who read the Menace, published at Au- 
rora. Mo., some vears ago, when the editor of the Melt- 
ing Pot, Mr. Tichener, accompanied bv Mr. Marvin 
Brown, editor of the Menace, located fifty thousand 
cancelled envelopes which the Menace Publishing Com- 
pany had sold to a .iunk dealer, — as is the custom of 
publishers — in the offices of the German Catholic 
Central Verein at St. Louis, Mo. 

Thp Menace ran a cut made from the snapshots 
which they had taken of these editors, inside the of- 
fices of the SPY headquarters, surrounded by bales of 
tlip Menacp envelones whiVh Mr. Brown was about to 
appropriate, and succeeded in rloiner so. a fact which 
demonstrated that the Jesuits have not a corner on 
the market when it comes to cleverness. 

The Aurora paper had for months been receiv- 
ing complaints from its subscribers, to the effect that 
thev were beincr persecuted, and if in bnsinpss, boy- 
cotted in their home towns by Roman Catholics, and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 35 

it had been puzzling the editors as to the avalanche of 
complaints coming from all directions until the dis- 
covery of the big consignment of cancelled envelopes, a 
large proportion of which had the return addresses on 
them. It was by this means that the list was procured, 
lue puDlicity which the Menace gave to this matter at 
the time, put a stop to the inquisition for the most 
part. This was an attack upon FKEE PKESS which 
tnese Leopoidmes were pledged to execute. 

i nis great bpy System penetrates every avenue of 
social lite. The field of journalism has been invaded 
until a Koman Catholic sits at many important editori- 
al desks of great newspapers, from coast to coast. 
Tney fill the reportorial statfs and other departments 
m the front offices and it goes without saying that 
the presses, composing rooms and other mechanical 
departments are dominated by them. 

Ihese Spies are members of all the important coni- 
missions, public works, school boards, library boards, 
housing commissions, naturalization departments, and 
are even active members of "Americanization" Commit- 
tees. 

Yes, I shall go farther and say, that I doubt if 
there is ever an assemblage of the ministers of any 
Protestant church in this country that meets without 
the presence of the Leopoldines. Our state universities 
and Protestant universities are honeycombed with 
them. Roman priests hold professorships in several 
state universities! On every text book committee se- 
lected to pass on the books to be used in our public 
schools, sits a Roman priest, or his personal representa- 
tive. He is there for the purpose of seeing to it that 
every truth derogatory to the Roman Catholic church 
is eliminated and every thing that will in any way re- 
flect credit upon that institution is incorporated. This 
explains why it is that the extent of the knowledge of 
the facts leading up to the assassination of Abraham 
Lincoln has been carefully suppressed so that the ex- 
tent of the knowledge about this greatest of all trag- 



36 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

edies in the history of our country does not exceed 
these words: 



"President Lincoln was assassinated in 
Ford's Theatre, April 14th, 1865, by an actor 
named John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson was 
immediately sworn into office." 

The one point upon which the Roman church is 
and has always been exceedingly "broad" is in regard 
to its members in the saloon and red-light districts of 
the cities. 

Have you ever asked yourself how it comes that 
a large majority of the proprietors of the whiskey 
places and brothels are members of that church in 
good standing? Did you ever hear of a saloon keeper 
being excommunicated by the church in Rome? Have 
you any knowledge of any female member of the under- 
world having had the anathemas of Rome hurled at her 
head? I think not. I will tell you some of the reasons 
why. A large part of the enormous income of the Cath- 
olic church reaches it through these channels. 

The church of Rome has for centuries been a 
large manufacturer of wine, liquors and beers. The 
most expensive European wines are made by the monks 
and nuns of that church. The finest champagne, for 
instance, is manufactured by the Carthusian Monks. 
**Benedictine" that beverage of hell, the sole purpose 
of which is intended to increase prostitution, was con- 
cocted by a monk of the Benedictine order eleven cen- 
turies ago. He was later created a cardinal by the Pope 
for the valuable "service" which he thereby rendered 
his "Holy" church. 

The cross is blown in the glass of every bottle of 
Benedictine; the coat of arms of the order is im- 
pressed upon the wax which seals it, and the Latin 
motto dedicates it "To God, the purest and the best." 

Fifty per cent of the wines manufactured in the 
United States was made in California and about fifty 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 37 

per cent of this was manufactured by the Roman Cath- 
oUc church in its monasteries in that state. To illus- 
trate: At Los Gatos the Jesuit Fathers "Novitiate of 
the Sacred Heart" conducted a large winery in which 
three special brands of wine were made, '* Villa St.- 
Joseph" was described in their advertising as "A dry 
white wine, pleasant flavor, delicate taste." 

^'Novitiate" — a heavy bodied, sweet, rich, mellow 
fragrance, does not need to be bottled. One hundred 
gallons at $39.00. New Revenue tax ten cents a gallon, 
or two cents per bottle." 

"Retail store — Pure Altar Wine Company, East 
Dubuque, Ills." 

The above is from the advertisement which goes 
on to tell us that its purpose is to "supply Reverend 
clergy in the N. W. States and Mississippi Valley, Rev. 
Walter F. Thornton, S. J. (Society of Jesus, or Slick 
Jesuit) Rector of Novitiate of the Sacred Heart. Ap- 
pointed F. M. Rhonberg, Agent on personal recommen- 
dation of His Grace, Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa." 

The following letter is official and will explain it- 
self : 

"St. Mary's Cathedral, 1100 Franklin St. 
San Francisco, California 

To whom it may concern: 

Having appointed the Rev. D. 0. Crowley Superior 
of St. Joseph's Agricultural Institute, to superin- 
tend the making of altar wines, I commend the 
wine made under his supervision at the Beaulieu 
Vineyard, and vouch for its absolute purity. 

(Signed) Edw. J. Hanna, 

Archbishop of San Francisco." 



38 ASSASSINS OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

I wish to digress further by saying that the sale 
of these wines was not confined to the clergy. Their 
retail stores m all of the large cities were opened for 
anyone to purchase from. At this St. Joseph's Agri- 
cultural Institute near Napa, California, a large part of 
the work was done by children — waifs, orphans and 
half-orphans. Priest D. 0. Crowley, the ''big" ecclesiasti- 
cal boss of the politics of San Francisco, gathers in 
through the Juvenile Court and elsewhere to his in- 
stitution known as the ''Catholic Youths' Directory" 
which occupies one of the highest knobs overlooking 
San Francisco in what is known as the Mission Dis- 
trict. These boys, ranging from ten to eighteen years 
old are shipped every so often up to St. Joseph's insti- 
tute where they are supposed to spend their "vaca- 
tion" helping to manufacture the wine. 

Priest Crowley, bye the bye, has been for several 
years president of the Public School Playground Com- 
mission, appointed by Mayor Jas. Rolph, who is not 
a Roman Catholic, but I am sorry to say, a member 
of the Masonic Fraternity. I cite this example to show 
how non-Romanists are utilized as Leopoldines. 

Just one more instance of the connection between 
"Wets" and the Roman Catholic church. Twenty-one 
brewing, wineries and distilling companies of Chicago, 
Illinois, contributed twenty thousand two hundred and 
fifty dollars as their last gift to the Roman Catholic 
"Charities" in a drive which Archbishop Mundelein 
launched in 1918, just previous to the November 
election Political Slush Fund — ("Charity covers a 
multitude of sins.") 

ROME'S REPRESENTATION IN THE UNDER- 
WORLD 

The courtesan has always securely held her posi- 
tion in the Roman church. In the Tenth Century two 
infamous courtesans, one the mother of a Pope, held 
sway in Rome where they helped to make and un- 
make popes. The two most eminent Catholic modem 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 39 

historians, the Rev. Doctors John Alzog and Ludwig 
Pastor, are authority for starthng facts pertaining to 
these women and their influence with the Papacy. Dr. 
Alzog said "Marozia, who was one of the infamous 
daughters of the infamous courtesan, Theodora, the 
Elder. Marozia had Pope John Xth thrown into prison 
and put to death in order to have her son who reigned 
as Pope John the Xlth, placed on the Pontifical throne. 
Pope John the Xlth was throughout his whole reign, 
subject to the baneful influence of either his mother 
or brother." (See Alzog's Universal Church History, 
Vol. 2, page 293 and 296.) 

Vanozza, a married woman, the mistress of Pope 
Alexander Vlth, the occupant of the pontifical throne 
in 1492, when Columbus didn't discover America, was 
the mother of his four children, Caesar, Juan, Jofre 
and Lucrezia, who were afterward legitimatized by pa- 
pal bwHs. This documentary evidence found in the secret 
archives of the Vatican and quoted by the above Cath- 
olic historians. During the early years of the pontifi- 
cate of Alexander Vlth, Vanozza occupied a palace 
close to the Latern palace, — the first Vatican — which 
the Pope had built for her, and in this residence the 
most brilliant social functions were held, presided over 
by his recognized affinity. 

JENNIE DALY— MADAM 

It is not exasfgeratmg to say that there is not a 
city in the United States today in which, the members 
of a larere quota of its demi monde are faithful devotees 
of the Romish church who ply their profession every 
day in the w^eek but who would not think of missing 
mass on Sunday. 

One of the most notorious women in Indianapolis, 
some years ago. was "Jennie Dalv" the keeper of houses 
of ill renute within a gun shot of the courthouse in 
that city. 

Her flae^rant association with '^ prominent lum- 
berman, a man of family for years, Warren Tate, whose 



40 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

business was close to the redlight district where this 
coarse featured female held sway, and ultimately 
separated him from his family. In the early eighties 
Tate, who was a bad tempered, abusive man was 
twitted about his affinity by a man named Love during 
the progress of some litigation in which they were 
engaged. The incident occurred in the court room. Tate 
told Love he would **kiir' him for that remark. He 
hurried out, went to his mill nearby, got his revolver 
and shot Love to death as he w^as coming down the 
court house steps. 

As the threat was made in the presence of wit- 
nesses, Tate who was arrested for murder in the first 
degree, had to use the bulk of his fortune during the 
sensational trial which followed, to save his neck. 

Public opinion, naturally was highly in the favor 
of the prosecution and it was an open secret that Jen- 
nie Daly spent ninety thousand dollars of her money 
in Tate's defense, and that she finally threatened every- 
one connected with the case that if he was convicted 
she would, "tell all she knew." Strange as it may seem, 
the murderer was allowed to go free. 

During all these years Jennie Daly was a regular 
attendant at the Romfm Catholic church, and was a 
generous donor. She finally, after amassing a larjsre 
fortune, "retired from business." purchased a preten- 
tions residence in a respectable part of the city, and she 
and Tate married and lived therp. At this timp she was 
a pew-holder in St. Joseph's Catholic church. After 
some years Tate was taken ill. and faithful dauprhter 
of the church th«t she was, she called in the narish 
priest who formallv received this man in^-o its folds. He 
was buripd in a consspicious place in the Catholic ceme- 
tprv south of that citv where his widow erected a beau- 
tiful moriument to his memorv. In ? fpw vpars she fol- 
lowed. She was eriven all the "consolations" within the 
tri"Pt of the Romish church, and at the Reouiem Mass at 
which she w?s buripd the frreat eulop^v which the 
r»riest delivered over this notorious prostitute aroused 
the indignation of many of the decent, respectable par- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 41 




MONUMENT OF NOTORIOUS "JENNIE DALY" 



Keeper of "resorts" in Indianapolis in the early 80's. "Faith- 
ful daughter of the Holy Church". 



42 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ishioners. The dust of the righteous mingles with that 
of these two scandalous characters, for were they not 
"obedient children of the Holy Mother Church V" The 
only unforgiveable sin in tne Komish corporation is to 
tell the truth about it. Jennie Daly proved herself to 
have been a useful devotee, generous and faithful to 
the end, and was so rewarded. 

In San Francisco the * 'Jennie Daly" happens to 
be a Spanish woman in close proximity to one of the 
large churches there, who may be seen hurrying to 
early mass on almost any Sunday morning. In San 
Francisco, however, I might say there are hundreds 
of the demi monde devotees of this church. So I might 
go on, ad lib, ad nauseum. 

I wish my readers to get a true estimate of the 
ramification of this wicked system which is responsi- 
ble for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. You 
must remember that some of the most valuable in- 
formation is poured into the listening ear of the Rom- 
ish priest in the confessional box by this route. You 
must know the real significance of what they mean 
when they tell you that they intend to ''Make America 
Catholic." You cannot defeat an enemy which you do 
not understand. You can never have a conviction 
strong enough to stir you to fight this common enemy 
of ours, unless you do, and this is the motive of the 
writer. 

The clean, pure, upright life, public and private, 
of Abraham Lincoln, was his protection from these 
Leopoldines. There never was an act of his that would 
have placed this great American in their power. This 
fact alone was sufficient to merit their implacable 
hatred, and it did. And now let us hasten on and 
trace the soft footfalls of these Jesuits, step by step 
as they shadowed the public life of our beloved mar- 
tyr. 



Chapter IV. 

The Turning Point In Lincoln's Life. 



While the Society of Jesus was organizing its de- 
structive forces in Vienna under the title of the St.- 
Leopold Foundation, in 18*28, two boys from the tall 
timbers of Spencer County, Indiana, in their teens, 
guided their flatboat which they had spent weeks in 
making, toward the wharf in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

One was a tall, awkAvard youth, with frank gray 
eyes, tanned skin, a mouth of generous proportions, 
a shock of rather coarse black hair on a well-shaped 
head, which was topped by a coonskin cap, commonly 
worn by the men and boys from the "backwoods" of 
the interior. When the boat holding its small cargo 
was within reach of the pier, the taller lad climbed to 
it with the agility of a cat, seized the rope, tied the 
boat to the pier, "and helped his thick-set companion 
up. This done, the boys strode away, soon lost in the 
crowd. 

They attracted no special attention from the pedes- 
trians for these pioneer young merchants frequently 
visited the great southern metropolis. They were busy 
taking in the sie-hts of a real city for the first time 
and it is not difficult to fancy the impressions and 
wonderment at what they saw, and their exchange 
of ideas while makincr their rounds. 

There was one incident, how^^ver. which made a 
lifelong impression and nroved to be the turning point 
in the taller bov's life, this lad who measured six feet 
two. Their attention was directed to a larp-e crowd 
by the loud voice of a man towering above it. He had 
long, black hair, loose flowing tie. wore a large slouch 
hat, was dressed in the garb of a city man, and was 



44 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

calling out in the language of an auctioneer, empha- 
sizing his points with the crack of a black snake whip. 
The boys moved over, pushing their way through 
the crowd made up of almost every type from the 
gentleman in broadcloth down to the street urchin, 
nor did they stop until they had reached the inside 
of the circle around the large block upon which stood 
a young negro, about the age of the two youths whose 
curiosity had drawn them there. The colored lad was 
ordered to display his teeth, the fitness of his mus- 
cles, which stood out like great brown cords, demon- 
strating his splendid physical strength. 

The bidding was snappy, being worked up by the 
expert tactics of the auctioneer, whose facetious re- 
marks brought manv a coarse guffaw from the by- 
standers. Finally, the hammer banged down on the 
table, which was the sicrnal that the lad had been sold 
to the highest bidder, the deal was closed. 

A shrill crv rang out, followed by the stifled 
sobs of a beautiful mulatto girl, whose refined fea- 
tures, glossy black hair, hanging carelessly to her 
waist, betokened the dominance of the white blood 
in her veins. She was one of the "pacel'* of slaves who 
was to be auctioned off the following morning, and 
was the BRIDE of the boy who had just been dis- 
posed of. 

There was not the slierhtest attention paid to 
the incident for the details of the business transaction 
in human souls were beincr comnleted bv the narties 
of the first and second parts. The crowd ouickly dis- 
persed as the "show" was over for th^t day. 

Thp two boys from the "timbers" walked quickly 
away. Finally, as they were nearing- the plare where 
their boat was secured, our tall friend turned ouickly 
to his comnanion and said: "John, if T ever cret a 
chance to hit that thino-. bv God. I'll hit it. and TH 
hit it hard." He kent his oath, but no one but God 
and the Anorels. as they looked down that night, knew 
fhp time nor the plapp. but God knew then that the 
deft brown hand which tossed the rope lightly into 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 45 

that old flatboat, would one day sign the emancipa- 
tion of three million slaves! 

Permit me here to give a "close-up'* of our boy 
hero twenty-six years later, — a pen picture dispatched 
by a reporter for the Boston Journal who covered the 
debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Doug- 
las, which made both of these men famous. 

The State Convention had nominated Mr. Lincoln 
for the United States Senate. The report was as fol- 
lows: 

"The men are entirely dissimilar. Mr. Douglas is 
a thickset, finely built, courageous man and has the 
air of self-confidence that does not a little to inspire 
his supporters with hope. Mr. Lincoln is a tall, lank 
man. awkward, apparently diffident, and when not 
speaking, has neither firmness nor fire in his eye. He 
has a rich, silvery voice, enunciates with great dis- 
tinctness, and has a fine command of language. He 
commenced by a review of the points Mr. Douglas 
had made. In this he shows great tact and his retorts 
though gentlemanly, were sharp and reached to the 
core of the subject in dispute. (Lincoln) "My distin- 
guished friend says it is an insult to the emigrants of 
Kansas and Nebraska to suppose that they are not 
able to govern themselves. We must not slur over an 
argument of this kind because it happens to tickle 
the ear. It must be met and answered. I admit that the 
emigrants of Kansas and Nebraska are competent to 
govern themselves, but (the speaker risincr to his full 
height) I deny the right to govern any other person, 
without that person's consent/* 

The vast throno* was as silent as death; every 
pve was fixed upon the speaker. He then charged Mr. 
Douglas with doinpr nothing for freedom: with dis- 
regarding the rights and interests of the colored man, 
and for about forty minutes he spoke with a power 
we have seldom heard equaled. There was crrandeur 
in his thono-Vits. a comprehensiveness in his nrp-u- 
ments. and bindino- for^e in his conclusions, which 
were perfectly irresistible ... He was the tall man 



46 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

eloquent; his countenance glowed with animation, 
and his eye glistened with an intelligence that made 
it lustrous. He was no longer awkward and ungainly, 
but graceful, bold, commanding. Mr. Douglas had been 
quietly smoking up to this time, but here he forgot his 
cigar and listened with anxious attention. When he 
arose to reply, he appeared excited, disturbed and his 
second effort seemed to us vastly inferior to his first. 
Mr. Lincoln had given him a great task, and Mr. Doug- 
las had not time to answer him, even if he had the abil- 
ity." 

Thus we see that Mr. Lincoln made good on his 
boyhood promise, **to hit that thing hard." 

As early as 1856, Mr. Lincoln availed himself of 
his opportunity to "hit that thing hard" when he en- 
tered the political campaicrn, after an absence of sev- 
eral years, which he had been devoting to his law 
practice in Springfield, Illinois, with the intention of 
never leaving it again. He was drawn into tTie field by 
the infamous Dred Scott Decision rendered by the 
fanatical Romanist, Judge Taney, Chief Justice of the 
United States Supreme bench. The Taney decision in 
a nutshell was, that the "Negro had jio rights which 
the white man had to respect." This virtually placed 
the government endorsement on black slavery, and 
aroused Mr. Lincoln to action. 

In November, 1855, Abraham Lincoln drew down 
upon him the fire of Rome when he answered a wire 
from the Reverend Chas. Chiniquy, Catholic priest, of 
Kankakee, Ills., who had been engaged in a series of 
court suits with the bishop of the Chicago diocese, 
of which he was a "subject," asking his professional 
services. Within twenty minutes the reply came to 
Chiniquy : "Yes, I will defend your life and your honor 
at the next May term of the court at Urbana. A. Lin- 
coln." 

Promptly on May 19th, 1856, Mr. Lincoln appeared 
at Urbana and consulted with Father Chiniquy, but I 
will l^t him tell you of their meeting : 

"He was a giant in stature, but I found him still 



ASSASSINS OF ABHAHAM LINCOLN 47 

more a giant in the noble qualities of his mind and 
nearc. iL was impossible to converse wirh mm nve min- 
uses, witnout loving mm. mere was sucn an expression 
01 Kinariess and nonesty in liis lace, sucn an attractive 
magnetism m the man, tnat alter a lew minutes con- 
versation, one lelt as tied to him by ah ot tne noblest 
atcections of the heart. 

When pressing my hand, he told me: ''You were 
mistaken wnen you telegrapned tnat you were unknown 
to me. i know you by reputation, as tne stern opponent 
of the tyranny of your bishop, and the fearless pro- 
tector 01 your countrymen in Elmois. I have heard 
much of you from two friends, and last night your 
lawyers, Messrs. Osgood and Faddock, acquaintea me 
witn the fact that your bisnop" employs some of his 
tools to get rid of you. I hope it will be an easy thing 
to defeat his projects, and protect you against his 
machinations. He then askea me how I had been in- 
duced to desire his services, i answered by giving the 
story of that unknown friend, a lawyer^ who had 
advised me to have Mr. Lincoln — for the reason that 
he was the best and most honest man in Illinois. He 
smiled at my answer with that inimitable and unique 
smile which we may call the ^Lincoln smile' and repli- 
ed: 'That unknown friend would have been more cor- 
rect had he told you that Abraham Lincoln was the 
ugliest lawyer in the country,' and he laughed out- 
right." (Chiniquy's Fifty Years in the Church of 
Rome.) 

The defeat of Rome in this celebrated case by Mr. 
Lincoln; his terrific arraignment of the ''perjuring 
gang of priests" who had left no stone unturned to 
ruin Father Chiniquy by a false accusation against 
him in which it was charged by the infamous 
priest La Bell that Mr. Chiniquy had made an attack 
upon the sister of the former. On the night before 
the case was to go to the jury, Mr. Lincoln, himself, 
had almost given up hope of an acquittal, notwith- 
standing the fact that he was convinced of Father 
Chiniquy's innocence. He frankly told Chiniquy of 



48 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

his fears and his last admonition to the distressed 
and persecuted man was: *'My dear Mr. Chiniquy, 
though I hope tomorrow to destroy the testimony of 
LaBell against you, I must concede that I see great 
danger ahead. There is not the least doubt in my 
mind that every word he has said is a sworn lie, 
but my fear is, that the jury thinks differently. I am 
a pretty good judge of these matters, — I fear that 
our jurymen think you are guilty — I have never seen 
two such skillful rogues as those two priests. There 
is really a diabolical skill in the plan they have con- 
cocted to ruin you — the only way to be sure of a 
favorable verdict tomorrow, is that God Almighty 
would take our part and show your innocence! Go 
to Him and pray, for He alone can save you." 

Surely a more direct answer to prayer was never 
received, for that very night Father Chiniquy spent 
almost the entire time on his knees interceding that 
his innocence might be exonerated, when at three 
o'clock in the morning he answered a knock on his 
door, and there stood Mr. Lincoln, ''his face beaming 
with joy" as Chiniquy expressed it, — ''Cheer up, Mr. 
Chiniquy, I have the perjured priests in my hands. 
Their diabolical plot is known, and if they do not 
fly away before the dawn of day, they will sureiy 
be lynched. Bless the Lord, you are saved!" 

The wide publicity given the ca^e in Chicago 
through the press had brought out the fact that Chini- 
quy would probably be convicted. This was read by 
the French Catholics and brought to light two wit- 
nesses, two women who were present in priest La 
Bell's house when he offered his sister two sections 
of land if she would swear falsely against Father 
Chiniquy. La Bell allayed her scruples by assuring 
her he could forgive her sin if she would confess 
to him. (Priests' relatives rarely ever confess to them, 
if it can be avoided). One of these female witnesses 
whose conscience was aroused by the unjust position 
in which Father Chiniquy had been placed, came to 
Springfield that night and told the facts to Mr. Lin- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 49 

coin. The priests left town early in the morning, 
fearing the consequences as public opinion had been 
strongly against them, and La Bell's lawyer asked that 
the case be dismissed, which was granted. 

Mr. Lincoln did not permit the priests to go un- 
scathed, however, and in a most terrific scorching at 
their audacious attempt to corrupt the courts, he 
closed his rebuke as he towered above his auditors 
with these words: 

**May it please your honor, gentlemen of the 
jury and American citizens, this conspiracy, I am 
aware, has failed in its efforts, but I have a few 
words which I wish to say." He then went on and 
depicted the career of Father Chiniquy, how he had 
been unjustly persecuted, and in conclusion said: "As 
long as God gives me a heart to feel, a brain to 
think, or a hand to execute my will, I sha*l devote it 
against that power which has attempted to use the 
machinery of the courts to destroy the rights and 
character of an American citizen.'" And this prom- 
ise made by Abraham Lincoln in his maturer years 
he also kept. That same year when he entered 
the political field, tearing to tatters, as no other man 
could, Taney's Dred Scott Decision, in favor of 
black slavery, he fully understood the motive power 
behind it was Rome. Whenever Lincoln "hit a thing," 
he "hit it hard." 

From that time on the black clouds of Jesuitism 
were fast gathering about the life of Abraham Lin- 
coln. These enemies followed his path as a shadow fol- 
lows sunshine. From that moment his doom v/as writ- 
ten in letters of blood. 

A remarkable thing transpired, when, after the 
trial, Mr. Chiniquy asked Mr. Lincoln for his bill. 
While he was drawing up a note for $50.00, as his 
client had requested, Mr. Lincoln said to him : "Father 
Chiniquy, what are you crying for? You ought to 
be the happiest man alive. You have beaten your 
enemies and come out triumphant; they have fled in 
disgrace." To which the emotional Frenchman re- 



50 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

plied : "I am not weeping for myself, but for you, sir. 
They will kill you ; and let me tell you this, if I were 
in their place and they in mine, it would be my sole, 
my sworn duty, to take your life myself, or to find 
a man to do it/' 

Chiniquy was right. They found their man. 



LINCOLN THE THIRD PRESIDENT ASSASSIN- 
ATED. 

The murder of five presidents of this republic, 
by these enemies of Popular Governments in less 
than sixty years, is a toll which is worthy, it would 
seem to the writer, of the most serious consideration 
of the American people. Five presidents of this re- 
public in 59 years were assassinated ; two by the poison 
cup and three by the leaden bullet. 

Abraham Lincoln was the third president assas- 
sinated; three before him had been given the "Poison 
Cup." Indeed, poison had been administered to Presi- 
dent Lincoln, according to the Chas. Selby letter to 
Booth which was a conspicuous government exhibit in 
the trials of Mrs. Mary E. Surratt and the other con- 
spirators, which stated: 

"The cup failed us once, and might again." 

There were two things the ultra-pro-slavery 
leaders of the South had been urging for years by 
which they expected to make the breach for their 
entering wedge. One was the invasion of Cuba; the 
other, the annexation of Texas. The fine Italian hand 
is easily discernible in both. 

An invasion of Cuba would have meant war with 
Catholic Spain, Catholic France, Catholic Austria, 
Catholic Belgium, and, of course, Italy, where the 
Pope was king of his dominion. What chance would 
our young Republic have had in case they succeeded? 
Disruption? Not only disruption but total annihila- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 51 

tion of Popular Governments and the setting up of 
the monarchial institutions pledged at Congress of 
Vienna in 1814, and ratified at Verona in 1822, 

The PLAN of these imperialistic conspirators 
was to wipe out the little Republic of Mexico where 
the Liberals had succeeded, under the leadership of 
Juarez, the half-indian, rebellious ex-priest, in throw- 
ing off the Spanish and Papal yokes. Juarez had been 
elected president of Mexico when Civil War broke out 
in the United States. 

During this time the new popular government 
was progressing rapidly in Mexico. The first official 
act, was the CONFISCATION of all the Roman church 
property, which included over thirty-five per cent of 
the most valuable and choicest land and holdings. 

There was a certain line of policy which these 
monarchical plotters were pursuing in this country 
through the Leopoldines. The Slave question was be- 
coming more acute all the time. The Jesuit-controlled 
leaders only, were aware of the PLAN. The masses of 
the Southern people had no real knowledpre of it. They 
were not permitted to have, but their political leaders 
had. The masses of any people cannot be corrupted. 
The strong sense of jn<^tice and right and fairness 
which God has implanted in each human heart at birth, 
unless destroyed by some evil influence, or system, 
will invariablv spring into action at a crisis, if they 
are permitted to have a clear understanding of the 
issue. As a matter of fact their very instinct of self- 
preservation sharpens their judgment and strength- 
ens their resolutions. The only instances of wroncr de- 
cisions, or actions at such times, comes from false, 
wicked leaders. 

I say again, that it was the evil, "Un-christian, 
un-American influence of the Roman Church'* that 
dominated and controlled the ultra -pro-slavery leaders, 
which led on to its own destruction. They carried on a 
constant "Rule or ruin" policv in state and national af- 
fairs. They were, in fact, the strong element in the 
beginning but with the advent of the Abolitionists of 



52 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

the North, a weakening of their hold began, for the 
SLAVERY was thrust out in the open and could not be 
further obscured. 

In 1841 General Wm. Henry Harrison of Ohio, 
was elected President by a large majority. The loyalty 
to the Union of General Harrison was above ques- 
tion, and it was out of the power of the Leopoldines 
to defeat him. It was with his election that the "Big 
Stick" of intimidation was first raised when political 
intrigue had failed. 

In his inaugural address, which was a masterpiece. 
President Harrison clearly, definitely and finally cut 
any ground for hope from under them, which these 
enemies to the Union of States might have had when 
he said: 

'We admit of no government by divine right, 
believing that so far as power is concerned, the 
beneficent Creator has made no distinction among 
men; that all are upon an equality, and that the 
only legitimate right to govern, is upon the ex- 
press grant of power from the governed." 

With these unmistakable words President Har- 
rison made his position clear; he hurled defiance t^ 
the Divine Right enemies of our Popular Government. 
Aye, he did more — for those were the words that 
signed his death warrant. Just one month and five 
days from that day. President Harrison lay a corpse in 
the White House. He died from arsenic poisoning, ad- 
ministered by the tools of Rome. The Jesuit oath had 
been swiftly carried out: 

"I do further promise and declare that I will, 
when opportunity presents, make and wage, relent- 
less war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, 
protestants and Liberals, as I am directed to do, to 
extirpate them and exterminate them from the 
face of the earth .... 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



53 



Jesuit Oath Fulfilled Five Times in 
Sixty Years. 



"By the Poison Cup" 
April 4, 1841 



"By the Poison Cup* 
July 5, 1850 





President Wm. Henry Harrison President Zachary Taylor 



By the "Leaden Bullet" By the "Leaden Bullet", 

July 2, 1881 Sept. 6, 1901 





President James A. Garfield 



President William McKinley 



54 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"That when the same cannot be done openly, 
I will secretly use the poison cup regard- 
less of the honor, rank, dignity, or authority of 
the person or persons .... whatsoever may be 
their condition in life, either public or private, 
as I at any time may be directed so to do by any 
agent of the Pope or Superior of the Brotherhood 
of the Holy Faith of the Society of Jesus." 

Allow me to quote for you from U. S. Senator 
Benton's "Thirty Years View," volume 11, page 21, 
regarding the death of President Harrison : 

"There was no failure of health or strength 
to indicate such an event or to excite apprehen- 
sion that he would not go through his term with 
the same vigor with which he commenced it. His 
attack was sudden and evidently fatal from the 
beginning." 

And at the close of the chapter in Senator Ben- 
ton's book, we read this significant bit of information 
which should be well pondered : 

"That the deceased President had been 
closely preceded and was rapidly followed by the 
deaths of almost all of his numerous family, sons 
and daughters." 

That is "extirpation" with a vengeance, is it not? 
WHOLESALE extirpation. In fact, there was but one 
of his eight children, a son, permitted to live. 

INTIMIDATION was the covert motive behind 
this wholesale assassination of the Harrison family of 
Liberal "heretics," whose distinguished father had 
been martyred for his belief in the POPULAR GOV- 
ERNIVTENT of which he had been made the highest 
representative by the PEOPLE. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 55 

THE ASSASSINATION OF THE TWELFTH PRESI- 
DENT. 

As these plotters against the Union had tried 
President Harrison out on the annexation of Texas, 
they used the invasion of Cuba as the test for Zach- 
ary Taylor, and had their plans ready to launch their 
nefarious scheme in the early part of his administra- 
tion, but from the very beginning President Taylor 
snuffed out all hope of its consummation during his 
term. In his first message to Congress, he saidj 

"But attachment to the UNION of States 
should be fostered in every American heart. For 
more than half a century, during which kingdoms 
and empires have fallen, this Union has stood un- 
shaken In my judgment its dissolution 

would be the greatest of calamities, and to avert 
that should be the steady aim of every American. 
Upon its preservation must depend our own hap- 
piness and that of generations to come. Whatever 
dangers may threaten it, I shall stand by it and 
maintain it in its integrity to the full extent of the 
obligations imposed, and power conferred on me 
by the Constitution." 

There was no quibbling in this. The pro-slavery 
leaders had nothing to count on in Taylor, therefore 
they decided on his assassination. While these poli- 
ticians were not influential enough to name the Presi- 
dent, they were cunning enough to be able to control 
the nomination of the Vice President, and it goes with- 
out saying that they always chose a man who was in 
full sympathy with their plans. They pursued this as 
the next best thing. It had become practically a 
''trade" between the two groups of politicians. 

John Tyler, a staunch pro-slavery man, strong for 
the things his party wanted, was chosen as Vice 
President for Taylor. The President, knov/ing the cal- 



56 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ibre of this running mate, had no sympathy, and as 
little to do with him as possible. The arch-plotters, 
fearing that suspicion might be aroused by the death 
of the President early in his administration, as in the 
case of President Harrison, permitted him to serve 
one year and four months, wben on the Fourth of 
July, arsenic was administered to him during a cele- 
bration in \Vashington at which he was invited to de- 
liver the address. He went in perfect health in the 
morning and was taken ill in the afternoon about five 
o'clock and died on the Monday following, having been 
sick the same number of days and with precisely the 
same symptoms as was his predecessor, President Har- 
rison. I quote again from Senator Benton's "Thirty 
Years View:" 

"He sat out all the speeches and omitted no 
attention which he believed the decorum of his 
station required The violent attack be- 
gan soon after his return to the Presidential 
mansion." (Vol. 11, P. 763.) 

The Vice President, John Tyler, was immediately 
sworn in as President, after the death of "Old Rough 
and Ready" as Zachary Taylor's friends affectionately 
called him. 

Tyler, who had been approached by these assas- 
sins previous to the death of President Taylor, had re- 
plied to their interrogations on the annexation of Tex- 
as question: 

"If I should ever become president, I would 
exert the entire influence of that office to ac- 
complish it." 

President Tyler made good his promise and the 
annexation of Texas which was tricked through, 
caused the resignation of every member of President 
Taylor's Cabinet, with the exception of Daniel Webster, 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



57 



^^"^y 










PRESIDENT JAMES BUCHANAN 



Given "Poison Cup" at the National Hotel, Washington, D. 
C, February, 1856, but escaped in a wholesale poisoning in 
which fifty were affected and thirty-eight died. 



58 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

but let us again quote from Benton's "Thirty Years' 

View:" 

''He (Webster) had remained with Mr. Ty- 
ler until the Spring of 1843, when the progress 
of the Texas annexation scheme carried on pri- 
vately, not to say clandestinely, had reached a 
point to take an official form, and to become the 
subject of government negotiation, though still 
secret. Mr. Webster, Secretary of State, was an 
obstacle to that negotiation. He could not be trust- 
ed with the secret, much less conduct the negotia- 
tions. How to get rid of him was a question of 
some delicacy. Abrupt dismissal would have re- 
volted his friends. Voluntary resignation was not 
to be expected .... A middle course was fallen 
upon — that of compelling a resignation. Mr. Ty- 
ler became reserved and indifferent to him. Mr. 
Gilmer and Mr. Upshur, with whom he had few 
affinities, took but little nains to conceal their 

distaste to him Mr. Webster felt it and 

told some of his friends. They said ^'resign." He 
did and his resignation was accented with an 
alacrity which showed it was waited for. Mr. Up- 
shur took his place and nuickly the Texas negotia- 
tions became official, still secretly. (Thirty Years' 
View, P. 562.) 

Circumstances pointed to the Messrs. Gilmer and 
Upshur, as being the actual assassins of Zachary Tay- 
lor. Thus, at last, they accomplished, after years of 
effort, one of their daring schemes — the annexation 
of Texas. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 59 

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE 
THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT 

The Presidential election of 1856 was a hotly con- 
tested one for the pro-slavery forces fully realized 
that never again would they be able to dominate or 
control the presidency. The newly AWAKENED SO- 
CIAL CONSCIENCE of the North had animated PUB- 
LIC SENTIMENT to such an extent that this would 
be impossible, so they were ready to take the most 
desperate chances to elect James Buchanan as the only 
presidential possibility, in whom they could have any 
hope. Not being absolutely certain of his dependable- 
ness, they resorted to their old policy of being doubly 
sure of his running mate and nominated John C. Breck- 
enridge of Kentucky. 

In order that the Dred Scott Decision should not 
in any way hazard the chances of Buchanan's election, 
these Jesuit schemers compelled Judge Roger E. Taney 
to withhold his decision until after the election. It was 
not published until two days after the Inauguration, 
March 6th, 1857. 

The new President proved himself a decided 
"Trimmer." Although he was a Northern man, he had 
strongly courted the Southern leaders, and given them 
to understand that he was *'Wifh them heart and soul." 
in short, he double-crossed them. He was invited to 
deliver an address on Washington's birthday, and made 
a reservation at the National Hotel, (which, by the 
way, was the headquarters for the Jesuit traitors) for 
himself and friends. The Southern leaders immediately 
got in touch with him with the intention of testing 
him out and learning precisely whether he intended 
to make good on his pre-election promises or not. 

The gentleman had had his ear to the ground ev- 
idently and heard the rumble of the Abolitionists' 
wheels, and when the committee asked for a confer- 
ence, he coolly informed them that he was President of. 
the North, as well as of the South. This change of at- 
titude was indicated by his very decided stand against 



60 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Jefferson Davis and his party, and he made known 
his intention of settling the question of Slavery in the 
Free States to the satisfaction of the people in those 
States. 

The following quotations from the New York 
Herald and the Post at the time chronicled what fol- 
lowed : 

"The appointments favoring the North by the 
Jeff Davis faction will doubtless be accepted, and 
treated as a declaration of war, and a war of ex- 
termination on one side or the other." (Feb. 25, 
1857.) 

"On Washington's birthday, Buchanan's stand 
became known and the next day (23rd) he was 
poisoned. The plot was deep and planned with 
skill. Mr. Buchanan, as was customary with men 
in his station, had a table and chairs reserved for 
himself and friends in the dining room at the Na- 
tional Hotel. The President was known to be an 
inveterate tea drinker; in fact. Northern people 
rarely drink anything else in the evening. South- 
ern men prefer coffee. Thus, to make sure of Bu- 
chanan and his Northern friends, arsenic was 
sprinkled in the bowls containing the tea and 
lump sugar and set on the table where he was to 
sit. The pulverized sugar in the bowls used for 
coffee on the other tables was kept free from the 
poison. Not a single Southern man was affected 
or harmed. Fifty or sixty persons dined at the 
table that evening, and as nearly as can be 
learned, about thirty-eight died from the effects 
of the poison." 

"President Buchanan was poisoned, and with 
great difficulty his life was saved. His physicians 
treated him understandingly from instructions 
given by himself as to the cause of his illness, 
for he understood well what was the matter." 

"Since the appearance of the epidemic, the 
tables at the National Hotel have been almost 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 61 

empty. But more remarkable than the appear- 
ance of the epidemic itself, is the supineness of 
the authorities of Washington, in regard to it." 

''Have the proprietors of the Hotel, or clerks, 
or servants, suffered from it? If not, in what re- 
spect did their diet and accommodations differ 
from those of the guests (Northern) ?" 

"There is more in this calamity than meets 
the eye. It is a matter that should not be trifled 
with.'' (N. Y. Post, March 18, 1857.) 

Thus again, we see the Jesuits "found their man" 
and kept their oath that : 

"I do further promise and declare, that I will 
have no opinion or will of my own, or any mental 
reservation whatsoever, even as a corpse or cada- 
ver, but I will unhesitatingly obey each and every 
command that I may receive from my superiors 
in the Militia of the Pope, and of Jesus Christ. ' 

"That when the same cannot be done openly, 
I will secretly use the poison cup . . . the steel of 
the poinard, or the leaden bullet, regardless ot 
honor, rank, dignity or authority, either public or 
private, as I at any time may be directed to do. 

The close call to death frightened and made James 
Buchanan the most subservient tool the Jesuits ever 
had. An old friend who visited him in Washington a 
few months after, said he had "aged twenty-tive 
years.'" He had been the picture of health, robust and 
straight as an arrow, when he arrived m Washington 
for his Inauguration. After he had gotten his dose he 
was emaciated and bent. An item from the Newark 
News Advertiser of March 18th, 1857, said: 



62 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"SYMPTOMS OF THE ATTACK AND NAMES OF 
SOME OF THE MURDERED DEAD." 

"A persistent diarrhoea, in some cases accom- 
panied by violent vomiting, and always with a 
most distressing loss of strength and spirits in the 
person. Sometimes the person for one day would 
be filled with the hopes of recovery, then relapse 
again to loss of spirits and illness." 

"Elliott Eskridge, the nephew of President 
Buchanan, died from the effects of the poisoning." 
During the Buchanan administration seven States 
seceded, headed by South Carolina, taking seven forts, 
four arsenals and one Navy Yard, and the United 
States Mint at New Orleans, with five hundred and 
eleven thousand dollars. The total value of the govern- 
ment property stolen at this time was TWENTY-SEV- 
EN MILLION DOLLARS AND EIGHT MILLIONS 
OF INDLA.N TRUST BONDS! 

Allow me here to give the following graphic pic- 
ture of the situation in 1850-60, taken from a eulogy, 
delivered on Wendell Phillips in Boston, April 9th, 1884, 
by the Rev. Dr. Archibald H. Grimke of Washington, 
D. C, one of the most scholarly and eloquent thinkers 
of his race: 

"But when the year 1850 came and the slave 
power hung its Black bill over the Free States, 
non-resistance had no longer any place in the 
conflict. The time for argument had passed; the 
time for arms had arrived. On the first wave of 
this momentous change Wendell Phillips mounted 
to leadership. His speeches were the first billows 
breaking in prophetic fury against the South. 
They were the first blasts of the tempest; the 
first shock on the utmost verge of the Civil War. 
Forcible resistance of the Black bill was now 
obedience to God . . . The passage of the Bill was 
the actual opening of hostilities between two sec- 
tions. The Union from that moment was in the 
state of war. Of course there were not then any 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 63 

of the visible signs of war, — no opposite armies — 
two belligerent governments. ... It was none the 

less real, however The peacable surrender of 

a fugitive slave becomes now treason to freedom. 
Wendell Phillips comprehended the gravity of the 
situation. He refused to cry peace when there was 
no peace. He answered the Southern manifesto 
with the thunder of his great speech on the an- 
niversary of the rendition of Sims. . .He is in com- 
mand and has called for guns. . . He saw clearly 
that the danger of the reform lay in the stupor 
and indifference which repeated executions under 
the law would produce. 

"The South was united and highly organized, 
impelled by a single purpose, and in possession of 
the whole machinery of government. He saw the 
North timid, irresolute, sordid, drugged by Whigs 
and Democrats, and frozen with the fear of dis- 
union. . . Peace was slavery, and sleep was death. 
The only hope of freedom lay now in the finger 
that could pull the trigger. This might beat back 
the advancing apathy and save the citadel of lib- 
erty. It is the glory of Phillips that he saw this. 
.... He was an army in himself. His eloquence 
poured out month after month, and year after 
year, a kind of imminent presence. . . . the very 
air of the Free States vibrated with the disembod- 
ied soul of his mighty invectives. . . Shock after 
shock has loosened the ice from the conscience 
and courage of the North. The Republican party 
is born, and then comes the first political freedom. 
Abraham Lincoln has entered the White House, 
and Jeff Davis has turned his back upon Washing- 
ton forever. The trial morning is rising gloomiy 
upon the republic. The gray light is haunted with 
strange voices, winged portents, bloody appari- 
tions. Right and Wrong, Freedom and Slavery 
have reached the plains of '60 !'* 
Thus we have been given a glimpse of the decade 
from the murder of Taylor to the Election of Lincoln. 



Chapter V. 

When The Pope Was King. 



That Pope Pius IXth conspired with Napoleon 
Ilird to take advantage of the conflict between the 
North and the South in this country and to with one 
blow destroy both Popular Governments of Mexico and 
the United States, is beyond question. 

During the years from 1864 to '65 the activity of 
these Jesuits in Europe was redoubled. There is no 
doubt that they were not in close touch with every 
step and phase of the Rebellion in this country. In 
1856 Prince Maximillian of Austria, was called to Rome 
where a marriage had been arranged through ecclesias- 
tical and royal intrigue between himself and the Prin- 
cess Carlotta, daughter of King Leopold Ilnd of Bel- 
gium, thus uniting two of the strongest Catholic 
powers in Europe. 

The next step was the marriage of this royal 
couple in the Cathedral at Vienna. In April, 1864, by 
the orders of the pope, they were crowned Emperor 
and Empress of Mexico at Pontifical High Mass and 
amidst great rejoicing. On April 14, 1864, just one 
year to the day, previous to Lincoln's assassination, 
this royal couple set sail in an Austrian ship of war 
for Mexico. They put in at Cevita Vecchia, the port in 
the Papal States, and were received at the Vatican by 
the most elaborate ceremonies which had ever been 
extended by a pope to rovaltv. After several days of 
these honors and being loaded down with the papal 
blessings they again resumed their journey across the 
Atlantic. 

Maximillian had been, during a previous visit to 
Napoleon Ilird and his Empress Eugenia, assured of 
the assistance of thirty thousand French and Belgium 
troops for his invasion into Mexico, the specific ob- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 65 

ject of which was the destruction of the young Repub- 
lic ah^eady estabhshed under Juarez. These troops were 
poured in and were being supported by the Mexican 
people. It had been impressed upon Maximillian at the 
Vatican that his first official act must be complete 
restoration of all the church property and ecclesiasti- 
cal "rights" of the clergy which had been confiscated 
by the Liberal government. 

After the conquest of Mexico the plan was for this 
imperialistic commander ''Emperor" Maximillian, to 
join Jefferson Davis and Confederate troops at Rich- 
mond, where they would sweep north and capture 
Washington. 

Davis had made a strong appeal in 1863 in a 
letter to the Pope, and after the reply which he prompt- 
ly received from "His Holiness" a wholesale desertion 
of the Irish Catholic troops of the North to the Con- 
federacy followed. In fact, the government figures are 
that out of 144,000 Irish Romanists, but 44,000 re- 
mained loyal. 

We have seen and heard how the Roman priest- 
hood the world over, is bending every effort to restore 
the pope to the position which he occupied during the 
Dark Ages. This is perhaps, an opportune time for the 
reader to take a survey of the conditions which existed 
in the Papal States prior to and during the Civil War 
where the popes of Rome had been in supreme com- 
mand for over fourteen hundred years. Certainly, four- 
teen hundred years ought to be sufficient for a thor- 
ough test of the merits of a system. Pius IXth was 
elected in 1846. There had been three popes in the in- 
terim between him and Pius Vllth who had restored 
the Jesuits and called the Congress of Vienna in 1814. 
There was no change in policy, however, nor any lax- 
ness in regard to the attitude of the church toward 
its obligations to the "high contracting parties'' of 
the Holy Alliance and their Secret Treaty at Verona. 

Of all of his predecessors Pius IXth was one of 
the most reactionary. His notorious Syllabus which 
was proclaimed to a startled world in December, 1864, he 



66 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

anathamatized every fundamental principle upon which 
this Republic is based. The historians are inclined to 
place all the blame of his mistakes, and they were 
many, upon his Secretary of State, Cardinal Antonelli, 
who was beyond doubt ''the power behind the throne" — 
the agent for the "Black" pope. Antonelli is far more 
interesting as a character study than the "White" 
pope, inasmuch as he was so deeply interested in the 
affairs of this country during the war, I am taking 
the liberty of reproducing some graphic pen pictures 
by the distinguished French journalist, M. About, who 
made a personal visit to the Papal States to learn, 
firsthand, if the astounding reports from the Italian 
Revolutionists which had been pouring into the Eu- 
ropean Dress for several years were correct. M. About's 
book, "The Roman Question" is intensely interesting 
and written in the peculiarly piquant stvle of the 
brilliant Frenchman. It is long since out of print and 
difficult to secure as the Leopoldines have bouerht ud 
every copy which comes under their WATCHFUL 
EYE. It is a terrific arraignment, especially so, as the 
author himself was a Roman Catholic. 

His visit to the Papal States was made in 1859, 
the same year you ^vill remember that Abraham Lin- 
coln was making his telling political campaigns for 
the presidency, and immortalizing himself by his de- 
bate with Judge Douglas, tearin.p- to tatters the Dred 
Scott Decision, Judge Roger E. Taney. 

The great Italian noet and patriot, Mazzini. was an 
exile, living in a London attic, pouring out his soul's 
most noble aPDeals to the I>iberals of Europe. His large 
property holdings in Italy had been confiscated by the 
Pope's government. The Carlysles had visited him in 
his attic and through their friendship he was brought 
from the miserable surroundings and ensconsed i^ 
comfortable quarters, where the most distinguished 
literati of London and Paris visited him and were cap- 
tivated by his remarkable talents and his sincere pa- 
triotism and completely won over bv his irresistible 
arguments for a FREE AND UNITED ITALY. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 67 

The exile Garibaldi, with his "Redshirted Legion" 
had answered the call of his country after a sojourn 
in the United States where he had also lived in an at- 
tic in New York City, following the humble profession 
of a candlemaker, saving up his money. 

One day he suddenly closed his attic door and dis- 
appeared as mysteriously as he had come. The great 
soldier patriot returned to Italy by the way of London 
and one of his most brilliant conquests was the capture 
of the hearts of the people of London. The red-blooded 
staunch Protestants not only of the city itself, but 
from all over England, came to welcome the man who 
had returned to offer his sword against the papal 
yoke. They went wild with delight. Garibaldi with his 
yellow flowing hair under his big slouch hat was lifted 
to the shoulders of the crowd, mad with joy which 
surged about him, and carried as though his great 
form was but a feather's weight. 

This was an insult, aye, it was the unforgiva- 
ble sin in the eyes of the black-robed Jesuits, and the 
Vatican, which aroused the deadly hatred for- the 
English Protestant nation, a hatred which has not 
abated up to today. 

One might presume under the circumstances that 
the Pope would have been too occupied with his own af- 
fairs to have meddled with the politics in the United 
States, at such a time. 

The clever Frenchman, M. Dupin, has said: 

"Le Jesuitism est un epee dont la poingee est a 
Rome, et la point partout." — Jesuitism is a sword whose 
hilt is in Rome and its point everywhere. 

Gladstone had visited the Papal States in 1^50 
and on his return to England, had reported to his 
government and the London Press that the Papal gov- 
ernment was "The negation of God." 



68 ASSASSINS OP ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

In the preface of his book, M. About says : 

"It was in the Papal States that I studied the 
Roman Question. I travelled over every part of the 
country; I conversed with men of all opinions, ex- 
amined things very closely, and collected my informa- 
tion on the spot*' 

"The pressing condition of Italy has obliged me 
to write more rapidly than I could have wished; and 
this enforced haste has given me a certain air of 
warmth, perhaps of intemperance, even to the most 
carefully matured reflections. .... I fight fairly and 
in good faith. I do not pretend to have judged the 
foes of Italy without passion; but I have calumniated 
none of them." 

"If," he continues, "I have sought a publisher in 
Brussels, while I had an excellent one in Paris, it' is 
not because I feel any alarm on the score of the regu- 
lations of our press, or the severity of our tribunals. 
But as the Pope has a long arm that might reach me 
in France, I have have gone a little out of the way to 
tell him the plain truths contained in these pages.*' 

And now for the "plain truths" about his Secretary 
of State, the Cardinal Deacon, Antionelli. 

"He was born among thieves- His native place 
Sonino, is more celebrated in the history of crime, 
than all Arcadia in the annals of virtue. This nest 
of vultures was hidden in the southern mountains, to- 
ward the Neapolitan frontier. Roads, impractical to 
mounted dragoons, winding through brakes and thick- 
ets; forests impenetrable to the stranger; deep ra- 
vines and gloomy caverns — all combine to form a most 
desirable landscape, for the convenience of crime. 

The houses of Sonino, old, ill built, flung pellmell, 
one upon another, and almost uninhabitable by human 
beings, were, in point of fact, little else than depots of 
pillage and magazines of rapine. The population, alert 
and vigorous, had for many centuries practiced armed 
robberies, and depredation had gained its livelihood at 
the point of the carbine." 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 69 

"Newborn infants inhaled a contempt of the law 
with the mountain air, and drew in the love of others 
goods, with their mother's milk. Almost as soon as 
they could walk, they assumed cioccie, or moccasins 
of untanned leather, with which they learned to run 
fearlessly along the ledge of the giddiest mountain 
precipices. When they had acquired the art of pur- 
suing and escaping, of taking without being taken, 
the knowledge of different coins, the arithmetic of 
the distribution of booty, and the principles of the 
Apaches or the Comanches, their education was 
rights of nations . as they are practiced among the 
deemed complete. . . . 

**In the year of grace 1806, this sensual, brutal, 
impious, superstitious, ignorant and cunning race, en- 
dowed Italy with a little mountaineer, known as Gia- 
como Antionelli. Hawks do not hatch doves. This is 
an axiom in natural history, which has no need of 
demonstration. Had Giacomo Antionelli been gifted 
with simple virtues of an Arcadian shepherd, his vil- 
lage would instantly have disowned him. But the in- 
fluence of certain events modified his conduct, al- 
though they failed to modify his nature." 

*'If he received his first lessons from successful 
brigandage, his next teachers were the gendarmerie. 
When he was hardly four years old, the discharge of 
a high moral lesson shook his ears ; it was the French 
troops who were shooting brigands in the outskirts 
of Sonino." 

"After the return of Pius Vllth., he witnessed 
the decapitation of a few neighboring relatives who 
had dandled him on their knees. Under Leo Xllth., it 
was still worse. The wholesome correctives of the 
wooden horse were permanently established in village 

square St. Peter's Gate, which adjoins the house 

of the Antoinelli, was ornamented with a garland of 
human heads, which .... grinned dogmatically enough 

in their iron cages Young Giacomo was enabled 

to reflect upon the inconveniences of brigandage, even 
before he had tasted its sweets ... He hesitated for 



70 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

some time as to the choice of a calling. His natural 
vocation was that of the inhabitants of Sonino . . . 
to live in plenty, to enjoy every sort of pleasure, to 
rule others, to frighten them if necessary, but above 
all, to violate laws with immunity." 

With the view of attaining so lofty an end, 
without endangering his life, for which he had ever 
a most particular regard, he entered the great seminary 
of Rome." 



That's a beautiful picture of the next highest pre- 
late to the Pope, is it not ? 

So much for the early years of Antoinelli. 

But permit me to quote again from the pen of 
the author of "The Roman Question," who, as we know, 
was an eye witness : 

No country in Europe is more richly gifted, or 
possesses greater advantages, whether for agricul- 
ture, manufacture or commerce .... 

Traversed by the Appenines, which divide it 
about equally, the Papal dominions incline gently on 
one side the Adriatic, on the other the Meditteranean. 
In each of the seas they possess an excellent porr; 
to the east, Ancona to the west, Civita Vecchia ... If 
Panurge had had these ports in his kingdom, he would 
have infallibly built himself a navy . . . The Phoenic- 
ians and Carthagenians were not so well off. 

A river tolerably well known under the name of 
the Tiber, waters nearly the whole country to the 
west. In former days it ministered to the wants of 
internal commerce. Roman historians describe it as 
navigable up to Perugia. At the present time it is 
hardly so far as Rome ; but if its bed were cleared out, 
and the filth not allowed io be thrown in, it would ren- 
der greater service and would not overflow so often. 

In 1847, the country lands subject to the Pope 
were valued at about 34,800,000 pound? sterling . . . 
the Minister of Public Works and Commerce admitted 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 71 

that the property was not estimated at above a third 
of its real value. If capital returned its proper interest, 
if activity and industry caused trado and manufac- 
tures to increase, the national income, as ought to be 
the case, it would be the Rothschilds who would bor- 
row money from the Pope at six per cent interest.*' 

As a matter of fact the Papacy was heavily in- 
debted to the Rothschilds upon which About throws a 
high light further on. 

"But, stay,*' he continues, "I have not yet com- 
pleted the catalogue of possessions. To the munificence 
of nature, must be addea the inheritance of the past. 
The poor Pagans of great Rome left all their property 
to the Pope who damns them. 

They left him gigantic aqueducts, prodigious sew- 
ers and roads which we find still in use, after twenty 
centuries of traffic. They left him the Coliseum, for 
his Capuchins to preach in. They left him an exam- 
ple of an administration without equal in history. 
But the heritage was accepted without the respon- 
sibilities. 

"I will conceal from you no longer that this 
magnificent territory appeared to me in the first 
place most unworthily cultivated. From Civita 
Vecchia to Rome, a distance of sixteen leagues, 
cultivation struck me in the lio-ht of very rare 
accident . . . Some pasture fields, some land in 
fallow, plenty of brambles, and, at long intervals, 
a field with oxen at the plow: that is what the 
traveler will see in April. He will not meet with the 
occasional forest which he finds in the desert re- 
gions of Turkey. It seems as if man had swept 
across the land to destroy everything, ai^d ^he soil 
had been taken possession of by flor-ks and herds 

I used to walk in every direction, and 

sometimes long distances . . • F'owever, in pro- 
portion as I receded from the City of Rome, I 



72 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

found the land better cultivated. On would sup- 
pose that from a certain distance from St. Peter's, 
the peasants worked with greater relish " . . . . 

"I sometimes fancied that these honest la- 
borers worked as if they were afraid to make a 
noise, lest by smiting the soil too hard, too deeply, 
too boldly, they should wake up the dead of the 
past ages." 

"St. Peter's is a noble church, but, m its 
way, a well cultivated field is a beautiful sight. . . . 
... It seemed to me, that the activity and 
prosperity of the subjects of the Pope were in 
exact proportion to the square of the distance 
which separated them from Rome ... in other 
words, that the shade of the monuments of the 
eternal city, was noxious to the cultivation of 
the country. Rabelais says, *the shade of monas- 
teries is fruitfiir but he speaks in another sense." 
I submitted mj'' doubts to an old ecclesiastic, who 
hastened to undeceive me. "The country is not un- 
cultivated," he said, "or if it be so, the fault is with 
the subjects of the Pope. This people is indolent by 
nature, though 21,415 monks are always preaching 
activity and industry to them!" 

That is a birdseye view, dear reader, of the I'a- 
pal States in the early eighteentn century when we 
were having our blind struggle with the Papacy for 
our national existence in this country. 

In his chapter on PLEBEIANS, M. About has this 
to say: 

"The subjects of the Holy Father are divided 
by birth and fortune into three very distinct classes — 
nobility, citizens, and people, or plebeians. 

The Gospel has omitted to consecrate the inequal- 
ity of men, but the law of the state — that is to say, the 
will of the Popes — carefully maintains it. Benedict 
XTV declared it honorable and salutary in his Bull of 
January 4, 1746, and Pius IX expressed himself in 
the same terms at the beginning of his Chirografo 
of May 2nd, 1853." 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 73 

Ponder these words well, dear reader, and add to 
them the following quotation which I lifted from The 
New World, the Official Organ of the Roman Catho- 
lic Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago, 111., which 
was a comment on the Federation of Catholic Socie- 
ties held at New Orleans the previous November 1910 : 

Human sociiety has its origin from God and is 
constituted of two classes of people, rich and poor, 
which respectively represent Capital and Labor. 

Hence it follows that according to the ordinance ot 
God, human society is composed of two classes, su- 
periors and subjects, masters and servants, learned 
and unlettered, rich and poor, nobles and plebians." 
(The New World, Chicago, 111., Dec. 20-1910.) 

It is astounding to know that Diomede Falconio, 
the Pope's Legate to this country, who uttered the 
above divine right treason on that occasion was at the 
time a naturalized citizen of the United States ! ! ! 

That is what the oath of a Jesuit amounts to. 

Falconio, who has since died, was instructing the 
subjects of the Pope in this country and there were 
thousands of Catholics present at the New Orleans 
Convention, that a government based as our POPU- 
LAR Government is, is not worthy ''favor or support." 
(See Leo Xlllth's Great Encycicles, page 126). 

In a nutshell, the Roman Church in this country 
has always taught and is still teaching its subjects a 
separate citizenship inimical to our Americaa citizen- 
ship that the sole authority to rule must come from the 
consent of the ruled- 

This is the same divine right IDEA which rent 
this country from stem to stern in 1860, which gashed 
its fair face with the Mason and Dixon Line I 

This is thfi same identical teaching which swept 
Abraham Lincoln from us at the most critical moment 
in our country's history. 

This is the concentrated treason which is today be- 
ing inculcated in the minds of one milHon seven hundred 
thousand boys and girls who attend the Catholic paro- 
chial schools which we have wickedly permitted her to 



74 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

erect in direct opposition to the Public Schools where 
the fundamentals of POPULAR GOVERNMENT is in- 
stilled. 

This is the ROMAN QUESTION, the irrepres- 
sible conflict, the same old question which the great 
Lincoln understood and defined so thoroughly in his 
campaign with Douglas — Douglas with the Roman 
Catholic wife — Douglas, the Leopoldine, the defender 
of slavery, who was chosen whether consciously or un- 
consciously, I cannot say, but chosen just the same to 
champion the doctrine of class distinction in this coun- 
try with which they thought to destroy it. 

"That is the issue that will continue in this coun- 
try when the poor tongues of Judge Douglass and 
myself shall be silent- 
It is the eternal struggle between these two prin- 
ciples — right and wrong — throughout the world. 

They are the two principles that have stood face 
to face from the beginning of time, and will ever con- 
tinue to struggle. 

The one is the common right of human! ly and the 

other, the divine right of kings it is the same 

spirit that says: "You work and toil and earn bread 
and ril eat it.*' no matter in what shape it comes, .... 
it is the same tyrannical principle." (Lincoln's Speech 
at Alton, HI., October 15, 1858.) 

Abraham Lincoln was the living embodiment 
of"the common right of humanity/ In his life the 
perfection of the NEW IDEA had been materialized, 
had become a living, breathing FACT which was un- 
conquerable, yes, unassailable. 

Lincoln knew the struggle would go on, after 
"these poor tongues of Judge Douglass and myself 
shall be silent." 

I believe that the prophetic, inimitable, words that 
Charles Chiniquy attributes to him in his Fifty Years 
In The Church of Rome were said by him. They have 
the peculiar literary style of Lincoln, and could never 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 75 

be confused with the effusive, emotional manner of ex- 
pression of the Frenchman that Chiniquy had than 
night with day. 

The opening words : 

"I do not pretend to be a prophet," ring with 
the modesty which distinguishes many of Mr. Lin- 
coln's greatest sayings. Listen: 

"I do not pretend to be a prophet. But though 
not a prophet, I see a very dark cloud on our ho- 
rizon. That dark cloud is coming from Rome. It 
will be filled with tears of blood. It will rise and 
increase, till its flanks will be torn by a flash of 
lightning, followed by a fearful peal of thunder. 
Then a cyclone such as the world has never seen 
will pass over this country, spreading ruin and 
desolation from north to south. After it is over, 
there will be long days of peace and prosperity; 
for popery with its Jesuitism and merciless In- 
quisition, will have been forever swept away from 
our country. Neither you, nor I, but our children 
will live to see these things." — (Page 715, Fifty 
Years In The Church of Rome, by Rev- Charles 
Chiniquy) 



Chapter VI. 

Lincoln Takes Up The Burden. 



Certainly, no president of this Repubhc was ever 
beset with so many staggering problems as President 
Lincoln. The more we study those perilous years, the 
more we wonder at his great wisdom, firmness and 
boundless patience and charity- 

The Ultra-Pro-Slavery leaders had sworn to pre- 
vent the seating of Abraham Lincoln in the Presidental 
chair. So certain were they of the success of their 
plans that just as Buchanan was leaving the White 
House, before the arrival of Mr. Lincoln, he turned 
and said : "As George Washington was the first Presi- 
dent, so James Buchanan will be the last President 
of the United states." 

Mr. Lincoln had no idea of the rottenness and 
treason which were there to face him in Washington. 
Almost every department in Washington was headed 
by a traitor to the Government, for the arch-plotters 
had been placing their trusted tools preparatory to 
the final blow. 

The first months of his administration were 
spent in investigating these national assassins, and 
replacing them with men who were true. This, in 
itself, was a task that only the judgment of Lincoln 
could have accomplished. 

Mr. Lincoln had no idea of the dimensions of the 
Secession Plot. He was later to find that his first 
call for 75,000 volunteers was inadequate and was 
amazed when the Governors of three Southern States 
refused to send their quota. 

Another disillusionment was when he noted that as 
he increased his calls for troops, Jefferson Davis did 
not send out any call. From that on Lincoln befiran to 
realize something of the seriousness of the situation 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 77 

and his last call was for "three years or during the 
war." Southern leaders also realized the fact that they 
were up against the real thing. 

When President Lincoln reached Philadelphia for 
his first inauguration, there was a plot discovered 
and disclosed to General John Hancock at Washington 
to assassinate Mr. Lincoln at Baltimore, where he was 
to have stopped to address the citizens on his 
way to the Capital. The full details had been planned. 
An Italian barber well known in Baltimore, a Romanist, 
was to have stabbed him while seated in his carriage, 
when he started from the depot. 

The son of Wm. H- Seward, who was at that time 
Senator and afterwards Lincoln's Secretary of State, 
w^as sent post-haste to Philadelphia to warn Mr. Lin- 
coln of his danger. It was a difficult matter at first 
to convince him of the seriousness of it. He flatly 
refused to go to Washington immediately, as was 
suggested by his friends, but promised that after he 
had raised the flag on Independence Hall in Philadel- 
phia, and delivered an address to the members of 
the Legislature at Harrisburg, he would take an ear- 
lier train to Washington, which he did, accompanied 
by only one friend, Wade C. Lammon, one of his law 
partners, and Wm. H. Pinkerton, head of the Detective 
Agency of that name in Chicago. The party took the 
six o'clock train out of Philadelphia, quietly without 
attracting any publicity, and as Mr. Lincoln was sound- 
ly sleeping, the train whizzed through Baltimore, and 
got him to Washington early in the morning, where 
he was taken in charge by the largest military and 
Secret Service escort a president ever had been sur- 
rounded with. Thus was the first of Rome's assassina- 
tion plot thwarted. 

The awakening of the President and the North 
came on the morning of April 12, 1861 with the firing 
on Fort Sumpter. This opening shot of the rebellion was 
sent by General Beauregard, Jesuit leader of the mili- 
tary operations. Beauregard was a professed Roman- 
ist and sprung from a distinguished family of Jesuits. 



78 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




TUCnY ^P09. 



The Cabin home where the baby Lincoln pilayed about while 
the "Holy Alliance" was entered into to destroy the Govern- 
ment he was to save. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 79 







The White House to which the People sent him Nov. 4, 
1860, to "hit that thing hard". 




The East Room where President Lincoln's body lay in state, 
slain by the "leaden bullet". 

In this room the bodies of five slain Presidents have rested. 



so ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The North was wholly unprepared for war. They 
seemed not to have been able to realize that there 
could ever be a conflict between the citizens of the 
United States. This delusion was shot to pieces on 
April 12th, and amidst the greatest consternation and 
excitement preparations began in earnest. 

That President Lincoln fully realized it was not 
a Protestant South with which he was contending, 
is clearly evident from his own words on this sub- 
ject in his conversation with the Rev. Charles Chini- 
quy, ex-Catholic priest of Kankakee, 111., who called 
once each year during his administration at the White 
House to warn the President of his danger of assassina- 
tion by these enemies of Popular Government and 
their agents, the Jesuits, through their Leopoldines. 

"THE COMMON PEOPLE HEAR AND SEE THE 
BIG NOISY WHEELS OF THE SOUTHERN CON- 
FEDERACY CARS, AND THEY CALL HIM JEFF 
DAVIS, LEE, THOMPSON, BEAUREGARD, 
SEMMES, OR OTHERS. THEY HONESTLY THINK 
THAT THEY ARE THE MOTIVE POWER, THE 
FIRST CAUSE OF OUR TROUBLES, BUT IT IS A 
MISTAKE, THE TRUE MOTIVE POWER IS SE- 
CRETED BEHIND THE THICK WALLS OF THE 
VATICAN—THE COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS OF 
THE JESUITS; THE CONVENTS OF THE NUNS, 
THE CONFESSIONAL BOXES OF ROME." 

"THERE IS A FACT WHICH IS TOO MUCH 
IGNORED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WITH 
WHICH I AM ACQUAINTED ONLY SINCE I BE- 
CAME PRESIDENT. IT IS, THAT THE BEST AND 
LEADING FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH HAVE RE- 
CEIVED THEIR EDUCATION IN GREAT PART, IF 
NOT ALL, FROM THE JESUITS AND THE NUNS— 
HENCE THE DEGRADING PRINCIPLE OF SLAV- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 81 

ERY, PRIDE AND CRUELTY, WHICH ARE AS SEC- 
OND NATURE AMONG MANY OF THE PEOPLE." 

And continuing Mr. Lincoln analyzed the Roman 
psychology which played its part in his own murder, 
when he said : 

"HENCE THAT STRANGE WANT OF FAIR 
PLAY FOR HUMANITY; THAT IMPLACABLE 
HATRED AGAINST IDEALS OF EQUALITY AND 
LIBERTY, AS WE FIND THEM IN THE GOSPEL. 
OF CHRIST— IT IS TRUE THAT WE BOUGHT 
FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NEW 
MEXICO AND MISSOURI FROM SPAIN, BUT ROME 
HAD PUT HER VIEWS OF HER ANTI-SOCIAL AND 
ANTI-CHRISTIAN MAXEMS INTO THE VEINS OF 
THE PEOPLE, BEFORE THEY BECAME AMERI- 
CANS." 

Surely, no clearer conception of the masked enemy 
with which that great man was contending was ever 
glimpsed. While other men studied books, Lincoln 
STUDIED MEN, and the above interpretation of the 
terrible conflict in which he was the Commander-in- 
Chief is startling in its accuracy. It is very simple now 
for those of us who have the knowledge of an array 
of facts before us, to see what Lincoln then saw, but 
we must remember when he spoke those words, he 
was the very storm-center and chief actor in the social 
upheaval without the advantage of retrospect. Mr. 
Lincoln had a prophetic sense almost uncanny, which 
alone made him superior to any of his contemporaries- 
More than once he told his close friends that he had 
a strong premonition that he would not outlast the 
Rebellion, that his work would be finished with it. 



82 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ROMAN CHURCH ALWAYS HAS ADVOCATED 
CHATTEL SLAVERY. 

Disruption has always been the first motive of 
the Jesuits, and black slavery was the rock upon 
which they planned to rend this government. There 
was no pther principle, no ethics involved, never is, 
so far as Jesuitism goes, except the fundamental prin- 
ciples of the divine right rule of the popes of Rome 

From the earliest times the Roman Church ad- 
vocated human slavery. In the Middle Ages, when feu- 
dal slavery nourished, the church fattened on the ex- 
ploitation of the serfs who were bought and sold with 
the land. These serfs were supposed to have no souls, 
and were in precisely the same category as cattle- The 
great monasteries and nunneries were among the larg- 
est owners of serfs. For instance, had Joan D' Arc lived 
four hundred years before her time, she and her fam- 
ily would have been among the serfs attached to the 
Monastery of San Ramey. In short, serfdom was the 
basis of the wealth of the papacy. 

It is true that in rare cases the church lifted out 
of serfdom, a boy in whom it recognized some peculiar 
native talent or personal trait which might be culti- 
vated and turned to its own advantage, but the act 
was simply the removal from the thralldom of serfdom 
to that of ecclesiastical slavery for further and more 
useful exploitation by more exacting task masters, for 
the Roman church has always enslaved the minds of 
its victims. The Jesuit Oath exacts the obedience of 
"cadavers." 

In the "Doctrine of the Jesuits" by Gury, trans- 
lated into the French by that brilliant educator and 
statesman, Paul Bert in 1879, we find the position of 
the church and the Jesuits on black slavery quoted as 
follows : 

"Slavery does not constitute a crime before any 
law, divine or human. What reasons can we have for 
undermining the foundations of slavery with the same 
zeal that ought always to animate us in overcoming 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 83 

evil? When one thinks of the state of degradation in 
which the hordes of Africa Hve, the slave trade may 
be considered as a providential act, and we almost re- 
pudiate the philanthropy which sees in a man but 
one thing — material liberty." 

The above is the papal virus to which Lincoln re- 
ferred and with which the youths of the best families 
of the Southern Confederacy were inoculated, and 
which made the leaders of the ultra pro-slavery forces 
an easy prey to the Roman hierarchy and its priest- 
hood in the great conspiracy or destruction which Lin- 
coln visioned. 

It was the virus which was let into the viens of 
Mary E. Surratt and was passed on by her to her son, 
the arch-conspirator, John H. Surratt; it was the opiate 
which silenced the voice of conscience and kindness 
of heart of John Wilkes Booth, and nerved his hand 
to send the bullet into the great brain of Abraham 
Lincoln; it was the deadly drug which made Lewis 
Payne, the unfortunate, and the Happy-go-lucky 
''Davy" Herold, the shiftless Edw- Spangler, and the 
rest of the non-Catholic tools, wax, in the hands of the 
arch-Leopoldines in this wicked conspiracy to wreck 
this popular government. 

This Jesuit virus that "Slavery does not constitute 
a crime before any law, divine or human," was the 
deadlv driifx that set the BLOOD OF THE SLAVE 
OWNEKS ON FIRE, JUSTIFIED THEIR "CAUSE"' 
distorted their vision, controlled their ethics and ap- 
pealed so strongly to their economic interests, and it 
was the one big urge underlying the whole progress 
of the treason of secession. 

In the "A Memoir" of Jefferson Davis, the leader 
of the Southern Confederacy, pubHshed by his wife 
after his demise, we find on page 445, this remark: 
"Mr. Davis's early education had always inclined in 
the Roman Catholics, friends who could not be alien- 
ated from the oppressed." In chapter 2nd, that gen- 
tleman is quoted as follows : 



^4 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"The Kentucky Catholic school called St. 
Thomas College, when I was there was connected 
with the church. The priests were Dominicans. 
They held large property ; productive fields, slaves, 
flour mills, flocks and herds. As an association they 
were rich. Individually, they were vowed to pov- 
erty and self-abnegation. They were diligent, in 
the care, both spiritual and material, of their 
parishoners' wants. When I entered the school, a 
large majority of the boys belonged to the Roman 
Catholic church. After a short time I was the 
only Protestant boy remaining, and also the small- 
est boy in the school. From whatever reason, the 
priests were particularly kind to me. Father Wal- 
lace, afterwards bishop of Nashville, treated me 
with the fondness of a near relative." 

It is very obvious from the above that the "kind- 
ness" shown to Jefferson Davis as a child clung to him 
and influenced his whole life- It bore fruit, and his 
friendliness to the Catholic church was well repaid by 
that institution which always, under such circum- 
stances, rewards its tools. 

When Mr. Davis had been arrested after the close 
of the Civil War and was to be tried for treason, it 
was the distinguished Catholic attorney, Chas. O'Con- 
nor, of New York City, who oflfered his services, which 
were accepted in Mr. Davis's defense. 

On Sept. 25th, 1863, Davis addressed the follow- 
ing letter to Pius IXth: 

"Richmond, Va., Sept. 25, 1863. 
Very Venerable Sovereign Pontiff: 

The letters which you have written to the 
clergy of New Orleans and New York have been 
committed to me, and I have read with emotion 
the deep grief therein expressed for the ruin and 
devastation caused by the war, which is now being 
waged against the States and the people who have 
selected me as their president, and your orders 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 85 

to your clergy to exhort the people to peace and 
charity. I am deeply sensible of the christian 
charity which has impelled you to this reiterated 
appeal to the clergy. It is for this reason I feel it 
my duty to express personally and in the name 
of the Confederate States our gratitude for such 
sentiments of christian good feeling and love, and 
to assure Your Holiness, that the people threaten- 
ed even on their own hearths, with the most cruel 
oppression and terrible carnage is desirous as it 
always has been, to see the end of this impious 
war; that we have ever addressed prayers to 
heaven for that issue which Your Holiness now de- 
sires; that we desire none of our enemies posses- 
sions, that we merely fight to resist the devasta- 
tion of our country and the shedding of our best 
blood, and to force them to let us live in peace 
unHer the protection of our own institutions and 
under our laws, which not only insure to everyone 
the enjoyment of his temporal rights but also the 
free exercise of his religion. 

I pray your Holiness to accept on the part of 
myself and the people of the Confederate States 
our sincere thanks for the efforts in favor of 
peace. 

May the Lord preserve the days of Your Holi- 
ness and keep you under His divine protection. 

(Signed) Jefferson Davis.** 

It occurs to me that after perusing the above bit 
of concentrated treason, any apologist for this leader 
of the Rebellion would be out of order. 

Here is the Pope's reply: 

"Bustrious and honorable President, 
Salutation. 
We have just received with all suitable wel- 
come the persons sent by you to place in our 
hands your letter dated the 25th of Sept. last. 



S6 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




Author of infamous "Syllabus" proclaimed December 8, 
1864 which anathematizes the fundamentals of Representative 
Governments and was aimed particularly at the United States 
which stands in authority today precisely as it did the day it 
was uttered as is attested by the Great Encycicles of Leo XII. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 87 

Not slight was the pleasure we experienced when 
we learned from those persons and the letter, 
with what feelings of joy and gratitude, illus- 
trious and honorable President, as soon as you 
were informed of our letters to our venerable 
brother, John, Archbishop of New York and John, 
Archbishop of New Orleans, dated the 18th of 
October of last year, and in which we have with 
all our strength exerted and exhorted those ven- 
erable brothers that in their episcopal piety and 
solicitude they should endeavor with the most 
ardent zeal and in our name, to bring about the 
end of that fatal Civil iWar which has broken 
out in those countries in order that the Amer- 
ican people may obtain peace and concord and 
dwell charitably together. 

It is particularly agreeable to us to see that 
you, illustrious and honorable President, and your 
people, were animated with the same desires of 
peace and tranquilitty which we have in our let- 
ters inculcated upon our venerable brothers. May 
it please God at the same time to make other 
people of America and their rulers reflecting 
seriously how terrible is civil war and what 
calamities it engenders, listen to the inspira- 
tions of a calmer spirit and adopt resolutely the 
part of peace. 

As for us, we shall not cease to offer up the 
most fervent prayers to God Almighty that He 
may pour out upon all its people of America the 
spirit of peace and charity, and that He will stop 
the great evils which afflict them. We at the 
same time beseech the God of Pity to shed abroad 
upon you, the light of His Grace and attach you 
to us by a perfect friendship. 

Given at Rome, at St. Peters the 3rd day of 
December, 1863 of our Pontificate Eighteen. 

(Signed) Pius IXth." 



S8 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The reader will note the recognition by the Pope 
of a divided country and also his recognition of Davis 
as the President. It was on the publication of this 
letter that the large desertions of Roman Catholics 
from the ranks of the North began. 

Mrs. Davis tells us: 

"During Mr. Davis' imprisonment, the Holy 
father sent a likeness of himself and wrote under- 
neath it, with his own hand, attested by the seal 
of the Cardinal Antonelli, 'Come unto me all ye 
who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give 
you rest.' " 
The lady further opines that: 

*'The dignity and the man both illustrated 
the meek and lowly Lord of us all, whose Vice- 
Regent he was." 

This remark leaves no doubt as to precisely 
where she stood on the question. The writer was 
amused to learn that Jeff Davis was a **Wet" which 
is also in keeping with his early education in the 
Roman Church, and that his explanation upon an oc- 
casion when he was pressed for his attitude upon 
the subject is almost identical with that of the late 
J. Card. Gibbons. He says in part in his defense of 
the liquor traffic: 

"To destroy individual liberty, and moral 
responsibility, (Get that, dear reader) would be 
to eradicate one evil by the substitutirr of an- 
other, which it is submitted would be more fatal 
than that for which it was offered as a remedy. 
The abuse and not the use of stimulants, it must 
be confessed, is the evil to be remedied" 

Upon the whole, surely no one can deny that 
Rome's fatal virus worked in the veins of this Ultra- 
Pro-Slavery leader in the late Rebellion, and that 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 89 

Lincoln was right when he recognized the "anti- 
social and anti-christian views" of the foe with 
which he struggled. The fact that Jefferson Davis 
was not a professed Roman Catholic did not in the 
slightest curtail his usefulness as a Leopoldine. 

A sense of justice and gratitude should com- 
pel every loyal American to remember the de- 
cisive and correct attitude of the English govern- 
TTtent at the psychological moment in our Civil War. 
It stands in sharp contrast with the meddlesome, 
treacherous letter of the Pope, above quoted to the 
"Honorable and Illustrious President'' of the Seceding 
States. On page 476 in the "Memoirs" by Mrs. Davis, 
quotes in full the ultimatum of England which was re- 
ceived by Davis at Richmond through the British Con- 
sul which says in part: 

"After consulting with the law officers of 
the Crown, Her Majesty's government have come 
to the decision that the agents of the authorities 
of the so-called Confederate States have been en- 
gaged in building vessels which would be at least 
partially equipped for war purposes on leaving 
the ports of this country; that these war ves- 
sels would undoubtedly be used against the 
United States, a country with which this gov- 
ernment is at peace; that this would be a viola- 
tion of the neutrality laws of the realm ; and that 
the Government of the United States would have 
just grounds for serious complaint against her 
Majesty's Government, should they permit such 
an infraction of the friendly relations subsisting 
between the two countries. No matter what 
might be the difficulty of proving in a court of 
law that the parties procuring the building of 
these vessels are agents of the socalled Confed- 
erate States, it is universally understood through- 
out the world that they are so, and Her Majesty's 
Government are satisfied that Mr. Davis would 
not deny that they are so. Under these circum- 



90 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

stances, Her Majesty's Government protests and 
remonstrates against any further efforts being 
made on the part of the so-called Confederate 
States, or the authorities or agents thereof to 
build or to cause to be built, to purchase or to 
cause to be purchased, any such vessels as those 
styled as "Rams," or any other vessels to be used 
for war purposes against the United States, or 
against any country with which the United King- 
dom is at peace or on terms of amity; and Her 
Majesty's Government further protests against 
all acts in violation of the neutrality laws of the 
realms. 

I have the honor to be your Lordship's obedi- 
ent servant, 

(Signed) Russell" 

Those are the words with the **bark on." No 
recognition of "Your Illustrious and Honorable Presi- 
dent." Only recognition of a UNITED STATES— 
preservation of the Union — for which Abraham Lin- 
coln was contending and gave his precious life. 

The wobbly attitude of the past administrations 
in Washington on the dangerous interference of the 
Sinn Fein element in this country during the present 
unpleasant attempt at disruption in the British Em- 
pire on the so-called "Irish Question" which is not 
Irish at all, but Roman question, makes one ashamed 
and humiliated at the hemming and hawing of the 
politicians in high office at Washington. 

On July 26, 1862 in a letter to Reverdy Johnson, 
who by the way was the attorney who aftenvards 
gave his distinguished services to Mrs. Mary E. Sur- 
ratt, Mr. Lincoln said: 

"I am a patient man, always willing to forgive on 
the Christian terms of repentance, and also to give 
ample time for repentance. Still, I must save the 
government if possible. What I cannot do, of course 
I will not do; but it may as well be understood, once 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 91 

for all, that I shall not surrender this game leaving 
any available card unplayed" 

This was the same expression of sentiment which 
had caused the death of William Henry Harrison, 
the ninth President and Zachary Taylor, the twelfth 
President, the preservation of the UNION and that 
fact that Lincoln did it, was the grounds for his 
physical death, by these wreckers. 

Nor did the great Lincoln stop pouring out his 
patriotic soul all during this trying four years. On 
August 15, 1863, he gave his opinion upon the Draft 
as follows: 

"Shall we shrink from the necessary means to 
maintain our free government, which our grandfath- 
ers employed to establish, and our own fathers have 
already employed once to maintain it? Are we de- 
generate? Has the manhood of our race run out?" 
(Complete Works, Vol 11, p. 391). 

The President spent the first months of his ad- 
ministration feeling his way, so to speak. Delving into 
the condition in the various departments, finding 
traitors and carefully replacing them by those whom 
he knew to be true. The lesson he was learning would 
have staggered a man of less couiage than Lincoln — 
the steadfast, unyielding patriot, when any principle 
of right was in the balance. 

It was the sifting time with Lincoln. In his letter 
to Corning, June l.f63 he writes: 

"The man who stands by and says nothing when 
the peril of his counliy government is discussed, can- 
not be misunderstood. If not hindered, he is sure 
to help the enemy; much more, if he talks ambig- 
uously — talks for his country 'with buts and ifs and 
ands.' '' (Barrett, p. 632) 

In addressing the members of the general as- 
sembly Presbyterian Church, President Lmcoln said: 

"As a pilot, I have used my best exertions to 
keep afloat our ship of state; and shall be glad to 
resign my truit at the appoii^ted time to another pi- 
lot more skillful and successful than I may prove. 



92 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

in every case and at all hazards the government must 
be perpetuated/' (Complete Works, Vol 2, Page 342.) 

Thus almost daily was Lincoln telling of his Amer- 
ican creed, adding fuel to the fires of hatred which 
i^ere burning in the wicked hearts of his country's 
deadly enemies. Spurred on like a lot of demons, they 
rounded up their hell hounds in and about Wash- 
ington for the final perfidious act. 

It finally became manifest tv Fles)dent Lincoln 
that the presence of the foreign troops in Mexico wao 
a menace to the safety of this country, and througn 
our American Consul at Paris, this government 
served notice on Napoleon, that Jesuit tool of the Pope, 
that his troops must be removed from Mexico within 
the time indicated by this country. 

That there could be no misunderstanding con- 
cerning the attitude of the Lincoln administration 
toward the Republic of Mexico, was made plainly ev- 
ident by the *'note" sent through Secretary of State 
Seward to our Consul at Paris to be delivered to 
Napoleon ITTrd which reads: 

"The United States government does not de- 
sire to suppress the fact that their sjnnpathies 
are with Mexico, that is to say with the Repub- 
lic of Mexico nor does United States gov- 
ernment, in any sense, for any purpose, 
disapprove of the Republican government, 
then in force in Mexico, or distrust the admin- 
istration. Neither was there any disposition 
apparently, to deny the Liberals of Mexico finan- 
cial assistance/' 

When President Lincoln submitted to the Senate 
a Treaty granting a loan of $11,000,000 to the Repub- 
lic of Mexico, although he made no recommendation 
upon the subject, it was a sufficient hint which ex- 
pressed his sympat?iy. 

The demand that the French troops be removed 
from Mexico was complied with to the letter, owing 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 93 




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94 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

to complications in the situation in which France 
at the time was involved in Europe she feared war 
with the United States. 

As can be imagined, this was a terrible blow to 
the CONSPIRATORS in Europe, Canada and Mex- 
ico, not to speak of their tools in this country. It 
served to practically break the morale of the Confed- 
erate army, and hastened the end ol the war with a 
Victory for the right. 

In the meantime events were shaping up in Mex- 
ico in favor of the new Republic. 

The Empress Carlotta within a few months after 
their arrival in Mexico City, was sent to Rome by 
Maximillian to explain in person that the strength 
of Popular Government there had been underesti- 
mated; that it was impossible to restore the church 
property and the rights of the clergy. The important 
part of her mission, however, was to ask for more 
troops. 

Her reception at the Vatican was simply 
'^withering;" the Pope was so chagrined and angry 
at the failure of his designs and so severe in his re- 
proach that the sensitive princess was carried out bodi- 
ly in an unconscious state, upon which she recovered a 
mental wreck. She was incarcerated in the Castle of 
Bouchet near Brussels, Belgium, where she was placed 
under constant surveillance, and was unaware that on 
June 19th, 1867, Maximilian, her husband, was shot at 
sunrise at Queretaro, Mexico, by the Revolutionists. 
This is the tragic termination of what has always 
been alluded to as one of the greatest love matches of 
the royalty of Europe. 

A victory for the North was not indicated un- 
til the very last days of the War. The Leopoldines 
left no stone unturned to defeat Lincoln's renomi- 
nation. They fully realized that if they did not, it 
meant their doom. When the news of his re-election 
was flashed over the wires, they did not give up — 
far from it. They redoubled their efforts. They saw 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 95 










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96 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

more clearly than ever before that Abraham Lincoln 
was their Nemesis. They knew only too well that he 
would be the stumbling block to their future plans, 
for they felt that in Lincoln they would always en- 
counter a powerful champion for the preservation of 
the Union and all its institutions. They feared with a 
deadly fear the influence of his able pen and voice. 
They knew that to permit this calm, thorough, clear- 
visioned man who had such a complete estimate of 
their perfidious designs to serve at the helm during 
•the RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD would mean their 
ultimate rout in our political affairs. 



Chapter Vn. 

Assembling The Chosen Assassins. 



One Sunday morning, during November, 1864, 
as the congregation of the little Roman Catholic 
Church of St- Mary's, Charles County, Maryland, was 
filing out a.fter high mass and stood about in groups 
on the lawn talking in subdued voices about the news 
from the "front'* which was not far distant, a hand- 
some young man with dark, glowing eyes, jet black 
curling hair, a swinging, graceful carriage, with the 
grooming of a city man of culture and refinement, 
sauntered out from the church and stood a moment 
scanning the crowd; he finally made his way to a 
group, the center of which was a Dr. Queen, a lead- 
ing physician of that locality, and member of one 
of the prominent families. The stranger presented a 
card and the physician on glancing at it extended 
his hand and gave the gentleman a most cordial wel- 
come. The contents of the card must have borne a 
magic password which admitted him to the confi- 
dence and homes of these Romish devotees, every 
one of whom was a strong secessionist. The doctor 
introducpd the stranger, who was none other than 
John Wilkes Booth, son of the distinguished actor, 
Junius Brutus Booth. John Wilkes Booth was the most 
eminent young tragedian at the time in the coun- 
try, by far the most talented of the Booth brothers. 
He had accumulated by his profession some ?25,000 
which was auite a fortune in those days for a young 
man still in his twenties to accumulate. 

Booth was what is known as a "traveling star," 
having with great success played most of the big 
cities in this country and Canada- He was exceedingly 
popular with the members of his profession and up 



98 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, ON 
BRYANTOWN ROAD 



This is the Church where Booth attended Mass the Sunday, 
middle of November, 1864 when he met Dr. S. A. Mud'd and oth- 
er Knights of the Golden Circle and tried to get in touch with 
Surratt. This church marks the Catholic community to which he 
fled and received protection. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 99 

until he was caught in the Jesuit web, his whole 
thought and ambition was devoted to his art. 

John Booth had chosen to work under the name 
Wilkes until he gained recognition independent of 
the family name, desiring to win on his own merits 
his theatrical laurels. This in itself showed a principle 
somewhat out of the ordinary. After a pronounced 
success under the name of John Wilkes, he allowed 
himself to be starred under his own name. He assumed 
no airs, nor was he given to egotism as members of this 
profession of lesser distinction and talent are prone to 
be. There is no better way of estimating a man or wom- 
an's disposition more surely than from the opinion of 
those with whom he comes in daily contact in his voca- 
tion. I give the tribute paid to Booth before he fell under 
the spell of the Jesuit psychology, at least before it 
had taken a fatal hold of him. The witness is none 
other than that queen of tragedy of two decades ago. 
Clara Morris. She is quoted thus . 

"In glancing back over two crowded and busy 
seasons, one figure stands out in clearness and beauty- 
In this case so far as my personal knowledge goes, 
there is nothing derogatory to dignity and manhood 
in being called 'beautiful' for he was that bud of 
splendid promise blasted to the core before its full 
triumphant blooming, known to the world as a mad- 
man and assassin, but to the profession as 'that un- 
happy boy, John Wilkes Booth.' He was so young, so 
; right, so kind. 

"I could not have known him well ? Of course, too, 
there are two or three different people in every man's 
skin. Yet when we remember that Stars are not in 
the habit of showing their brightest, best side at re- 
hearsals, we cannot help feeling both respect and lik- 
ing for the one who does. 

"There are not many men who can receive a gash 
over the eye at a scene at night without at least a 
momentary outburst of temper, but when the com- 
bat between Richard and Richmond was being re- 
hearsed, John Wilkes Booth had again and again. 



100 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

urged McCullom — that six foot tall and handsome 
man who used to entrust me with the care of his 
watch during such encounters, 'Come on hard, come 
on hot, old fellow! Harder, faster! That he would take 
the chances of a blow if only they could make a hot 
light of it. Mr. McCullom, who was a cold man at 
inght, became nervous in his efforts to act like a 
fiery one. He forgot that he had struck the full num- 
ber of hard blows and when Booth was expecting a 
thrust, McCullom wielding his sword with both 
hands brought it down with an awful force fair 
across Booth's forehead. A cry of horror arose, for 
in one moment his face was marked in blood, one eye- 
brow was cut through. Then came simultaneously one 
deep groan from Richard (Booth) and an exclamation 
of *0h good God, good God!' from Richmond (McCul- 
lom) who stood trembling like a leaf and staring at 
his work. Booth, flinging the blood from his eyes with 
his left hand, said as gently as a man could speak: 
'That is all right, old man. Never mind me, only come 
on hard, and save the fight.' which he resumed at 
once. And although he was perceptibly weakened, it 
required a sharp order from Mr. Ellsler to ring the 
first curtain bell to force him to bring the fight to 
a close a single blow shorter than usual. There was a 
running to and fro with ice and vinegar, raw steak 
and raw oysters, and when the doctor placed a few 
.stitches where they were most required, Booth laugh- 
ingly declared that there were provisions enough to 
start a restaurant. 

"McCullom came to try to apologize, to explain, 
but Booth would have none of it. He held out his 
hand saying, 'Why, old fellow, you look as if you lost 
the blood. Don't worry — now, if m_y eye had gone, 
suld have been bad.' So, with light words he 
turned to set the unfortunate man at ease, and though 
he must have suffered much mortification and pain 
from the eye, he never made a sign showing it. 

"John Wilkes Booth, like his next elder brother 
was rather lacking in height, but his head and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN lUi 

throat and the manner of their rising from his shoul- 
ders were truly beautiful. His colormg was unusual, 
the ivory pallor of his skin, the inky blackness of 
dusky curly hair, the heavy lids of his glowing eyes, 
were all oriental, and they gave a touch of mystery to 
his lace when it fell into gravity, but there was gener- 
ally a flash of white teeth behind his black silky mus- 
tache. 

*'Now it is scarcely exaggerating to say that the 
fair sex was in love with John Wilkes Booth, or John 
Booth as he was called, the name Wilkes apparently 
being unknown to his family andl close friends. I 
played with John Wilkes to my great joy, playing 
'Player Queen' in the 'Marble Heart' I was one of 
the group of three statues in the first act, then a girl 
in my teens. 

*'With all my admiration for the person and 
genius of John Wilkes Booth, his crime I cannot 
condone. The killing of that homely, tender-hearted 
father, Abraham Lincoln, a rare combination of cour- 
age, justice, and humanity, whose death at the hands 
of an actor will be a grief of horror and shame to the 
profession forever. And I cannot believe that John 
Wilkes Booth was the leader of a band of bloody 
conspirators. 

''Who shall draw the line and say, *Here genius 
ends and madness begins? There was that touch of 
strangeness, in Edwin it was a profound melancholy; 
in John it was an exaggeration of spirit, almost a 
madness. There was the natural vanity of the actor 
too who craves a dramatic selection in real life. There 
was also his passionate love and sympathy for the 
South, which was easier to play upon than a pipe. 

"Undoubtedly he conspired to kidnap the Pres- 
ident; that would appeal to him. But after that I 
truly believe he was a tool; certainly he was no lead- 
er. Those who led him knew his courage, his belief in 
fate, his loyalty to his friends, and because they 
knew these things he drew the lot as it was meant 
he should from the first. Then, half mad, he accepted 



102 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 



m- 






f 






mm M? 



W,^^'-'f^^ * *' ' ***** i-'^ 



JOHN WILKES BOOTH 





Horrible example of the degenerating effects of the Jesuit 
psychology. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 103 

the part fate cast him for and committed the murder- 
ous crime. 

"God moves in a mysterious way 
And His wonders to perform." 

"And God shutteth not up his mercies forever in 
displeasure/ 

We can only shiver and turn our thoughts away 
from the bright liprht that went out in such utter 
darkness; poor guilty, unhappy, John V/ilkes Booth." 

John Wilkes was the only member of the Booth 
family whose sympathy was with the Confederacy. 
According to the "Great Conspiracy" a book published 
in 1866 by Barclay Co., in Philadelphia, Pa., John 
Wilkes Booth had been initiated into the Knights of 
the Golden Circle in Baltimore in the fall of 1860, "in 
a residence opposite the Cathedral." 

The same writer is authority for the following 
oath of the Knights of the Golden Circle, taken by 
John Wilkes Booth: 

"I , do swear by the blood 

of Jesus Christ, by the wounds of the most Sacred 
Body; by the Dolors of His immaculate Mother, 
and in the name of the Holy and Uhdivided Trin- 
ity, that I will solemnly keep all secrets of the 
Golden Circle; that I will faithfully perform 
whatever I m.ay be commanded, and that I shall 
always hold myself in readiness to obey the man- 
dates of the said Circle whether at bed, or board, 
at the festive circle, or at the grave, and if I shall 
hesitate or divulge the secret may I incur the 
severest penalties to which flesh is heir. 

"May I be cursed in all the relation of my 
life, in mind, body, and state, and may the pangs 
of hell be my eternal portion. 

"I feel honored fellow knights and compan- 
ions of the Golden Circle that you have deigned 



104 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

to admit me. No efforts shall be wanting on my 
part to advance the interests of the organiza- 
tion 

"A distinguished Latin Author has justly re- 
marked, that it is sweet and profitable to die tor 
one's country. I have but one life and am ready 
to give it should it be necessary 

The President rises and says : 

**Sir Knight you have just taken a most sol- 
emn adjuration and believe me that you are known 
to all members in every part of the country. The 
Order is extensive and though the government 
is zealous and would freely spend thousands to 
unveil our designs, all efforts have hitherto been 
fruitless. No traitor has yet appeared among us, 
and inevitable ruin awaits the individual who 
would play the part of a Benedict Arnold. No 
public steps would be taken. He would disap- 
pear and I leave it to you to judge his fate. "Dead 
men tell no tales." Ponder well on these things, 
and remember you cannot escape us. 

"Members give the hand of fellowship to our 
new Knight. (The Great Conspiracy published by 
Barclay 1865.)'' 

The pass-word to this organization was "Rome. 
Beware of the Negroes." 

That the author of the book, "The Great Con- 
spiracy," was thoroughly informed upon the details 
which could scarcely have come from anything short 
of actual membership in the organization is plainly 
evident. Also that he had knowledge of the assassina- 
tion of the former President Harrison, and Taylor, 
we gather. The incident occurred just after the re-elec- 
tion of President Lincoln. Booth, sitting in a hotel 
lobby one day, appeared very dejected; he was aroused 
by the following remark, which evidently was part of 
the secret phraseology of the K. G. Cs. : 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 105 

"It would be a queer thing were Lincoln to die and 
Andy Johnson be President after all. 

What makes you think so? 

Why, you know that Harrison and Taylor and that 
Fillmore and Tyler were presidents. Lincoln may take 
it into his head to follow their example. 

Perhaps, said the stranger ai Booth's elbow and 
regarding him steadfastly, neither Lincoln nor John- 
son will serve their terms out. 

Do you mean that the President mid the Vice- 
President both will die? Such a thing has never hap- 
pened before in the United Sates. 

But it may occur nevertheless Lin- 
coln and Johnson are both mortals .... I feel certain 
that ere another month Lincoln will die ..... Yes, 
he may die of some disease. 

Booth's suspicions were aroused and he turned 
suddenly around and asked: ''You said I believe, sir, 
that the President might die of some disease?" 

''Yes sir, of such diseases as commonly prevail in 
Home." 

"What diseases are they?" asked Booth. 

"All to which flesh is heir, the malaria from the 

Pantine marshes carries oflf hundreds; the plague of 

its day almost decimated the capitol of the Caesars 

...... but I tell you again that the President will 

die of a disease from Rome. 

Booth: "Sir, as you are well versed in history 
perhaps you can answer me one question, which one 
of all the sovereigns of all Italy had the most fickle 
wife?' 

"I am an indifferent guesser of conundrums, but 
I suppose the Doge." 

Ques. "Which Doge, he of Venice or Genoa?" 

Ans. "He of Venice, because he wedded the sea 
with a golden circlet. You remember Byron's oeautiful 
hnes?*' After this "test'' Booth was invited to the 
gentleman's room where they conferred privately. 

That John Wilkes Booth was initiated in this 
Order as early as 1860, the same authority states. 



106 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The following letter is quoted from Boc>th to a brother 
Sir Knight: 

"Dear Sir: The K. G. C. had a meeting; I was 
initiated. 'The die is cast and I have crossed the Rubi- 
con' and can never return. They tell me that Lin- 
coln, the damn chicken-hearted nigger lover, will per- 
haps be inaugurated, but I most heartily wish. That 
never shall sun that morrow see. I am devoted to the 
South, mind and body, so that she gains her independ- 
ence, I don't care what becomes of me- K I am sacri- 
ficed, I know that my country will grant me immortal- 
ity; if I escape, so much the better. I can serve her 
in other ways. One thing is very clear to my mind, 
the South must take some decisive step. She must 
throw a bomb-shell into the enemy's hand that shall 
spread terror and consternation wherever it goes. You 
know what I mean, so don't be surprised. Sincerely 
yours, John Wilkes Booth." 

(See Page 26, The Great Conspiracy.) 

The same authority gives a letter signed "Veritas" 
(truth) to Booth, which one would be strongly in- 
clined to believe might have been written by a priest 
judging by the style and Latin quotations — ^possibly 
his ecclesiastical sponsor. 

"My dear Booth : Since you left us, the Circle has 
held another meeting. The members are all exceed- 
ingly dissatisfied and if something be not speedily 
done, the southern cause is lost forever. Important 
dispatches have been received from Canada. They spoke 
out almost too plainly to be sent by mail, but as there 
was no signature and addressed to a feigned name, 
I do not suppose there was any danger. There is to 
be a ball or party at the White House and the Ape I 
suppose will be there in all his glory retailing his 
filthy anecdotes and pointless jests till they fall on 
the ear, usque ad naseum. Did you see what is the 
determination of the Lincoln Cabinet about confisca- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 107 

tion ? There is a clerk by the name of Charles Morton, 
who is employed in one of the government offices. He 
is gentlemanly but vain and exceedingly soft. I am 
told he drinks. Anyhow, make ^his acquaintance and 
see what can be got out of him- Handle him tenderly 
and you will be sure to catch your fish. Should you 
want any more money you will know where to send for 
it. An idea has struck me ; you know in the correspond- 
ence between Sir Henry Clinton Arnold and Andre the 
whole matter was treated in a mercantile way. We 
for the sake of safety and to make assurance doubly 
sure, must do the same. I will not detain you any 
longer, but give you an opportunity to read about our 
friends in Canada. Whatever be the results, rely on 
me. Sincerely your friend, Veritas." 

The statements made by his professional friend, 
John McCullough of a visit he paid Booth at the 
National Hotel, showed the deadly influence when 
he said: At another time I came over suddenly 
from New York, and being in the habit of go- 
ing right into Booth's room without knocking, 
I turned the knob and pushed right in. At the first 
wink I saw Booth sitting behind a table on which was 
a map, a knife and a pistol. He had gauntlets on his 
hands and spurs on his boots, and a military hat of 
a slouch character on his head. As the door opened 
he seized the knife and came for me. Said^ I, *John, 
what in the name of sense is the matter with you — 
are you crazy?' 

He heard my voice and arrested himself, and 
placed his hands before his eyes like a man dissipating 
r^ dream, and then said: 'Why, Johnny, how are you?' 
When I heard that it was he who killed Lincoln, I 
thought that he had been at the time I describe ready 
to carry out his purpose." 

In answer to a request by the writer for a state- 
ment of his acquaintance with John Booth of Rear 
Admiral Geo. W. Baird, U. S. A. retired, of Washington, 



108 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




GEORGE ATZERODT 



Delegated to assassinate Vice-President. Always known 
as a Catholic prior to the assassination. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 109 

D. C, who is probably the only living witness who 
helped to identify the body of John Booth, who was 
shot to death in the tobacco barn on the Garrett plan- 
tation, near Port Royal, Va., April 26, 1864, I received 
the following: 

1505 Rhode Island Avenue, 
Washington, D. C, November 29, 1921. 
Miss Burke McCarty, 

Grace Dodge Hotel, 
Washington, D. G. 
My dear Miss McCarty: 

Your letter of the 25th was received last night: 
I will try to answer it categorically, and, to avoid 
errors. I must go back to my diary. 

My acquaintance with John Wilkes Booth was not 
at all intimate. I met him in New Orleans in the 
winter of *63 and '64, when he was playing in the 
theatre there in "Marble Hearts" and he was splendid 
in his part. My acquaintance was what may be called 
a bar-room acquaintance. Was introduced to him by 
a young officer of my ship the "Pensacola" whose name 
was Fitch and who afterwards married the eldest 
daughter of General Sherman. Booth seemed to be a 
congenial fellow with a sense of humor and I thought 
was very temperate in his habits, not like his father 
in that respect. The War was at its height and was 
freely discussed, but Booth did not seem to be much 
interested in it. He was from Maryland, whose pop- 
lation was divided, though men as a rule believed it 
proper to side with their state. My ship went north 
in the spring of 1864 and I was assigned to my duty in 
the navy department. 

In 1850 when I was seven years of age, I went to 
school in Washington to two reverend gentlemen Cox 
and Marlot, who taught in the lower story of the Ma- 
sonic Hall, Virginia Avenue and Fourth Street East. 
The boy who sat by me about my own age was David 
Herold, a little round headed, round eyed, round bodied 
boy, whose general rotundity was completed by a 



110 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

voice that rolled his R's. I envied David his disposi- 
tion in that he got along with the big boys so well. 
When a big boy imposed on David, he would escape 
with a funny remark which was called witty, which 
generally got a laugh, and David was called popular. 
When a big boy imposed on me, I hated him; I hate 
him yet. David's father, Mr. George Herold, and my 
father were members of Naval Lodge of Masons. The 
Herolds were members of Christ Church Episcopal. 
My people were members of the Baptist Church. 

When I left that school about a year later, I lost 
sight of David. I heard he became a drug clerk. 

Now I quote from my records : 

"On the night of the 14th of April 1865 I went to 
call on a young lady and about 10:30 her brother 
came in and said Abe Lincoln is dead. He had been to 
the theatre to see Laura Keene in "Our American 
Cousin" and during a play a man had got into the box 
where the President was. and had shot the President, 
jumped out of the box on to the stage, and escaped 
from the back of the stage- I left at once ; saw police- 
man at the corner whom I interrogated and he con- 
firmed the story. I inquired as to the appearance of the 
assassin and he not only gave a description that fitted 
but said he resembled me, and I thought that I had 
better hurry to my boardinf? house. On arriving at 
my boarding house Dr. Ludlam and Mr. Fitch in- 
quired if I had heard the news and suggested that we 
go down town and get the latest "bricks" but nothing 
could induce me to appear on the streets again that 
night. 

"The people were wild with excitement. I never 
heard such threats of vengeance. Before 10:00 o'clock 
the next morning almost every house was draped in 
mourning. People had exhausted the stores here and 
wired Baltimore for black crepe and cambric. Dan 
Ballauf, the model maker, was standing leaning on the 
lower box in the theatre and saw it all. He denied 
the report that Booth had uttered the words *sic 
semper tyranis," but the newspapers had printed it. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 111 

The newspapers had the story very early, that John 
Wilkes Booth was the assassin and David Herold was 
the accomplice." 

"Though never intimate with John Wilkes Bootn, 
I admired him, his voice, power of declaiming. I took 
drinks with him at the Franklin House, Custom House 
Street, a place frequented by army and navy officers. 
He seemed to me to have no interest in the war. It 
was hard to understand. I had not seen him but once 
in Washington and that about three weeks before 
the murder of the President. It was on Sunday when 
he was coming out of Saint Aloysius Catholic Church 
Vesper Service — great crowds of various creeds used 
to go to that vespers where the music was good. I 
think Mme. Kretzmayer was the attractive soprano." 
A large reward was offered for Booth's arrest 
and conviction. The War had practically ended and 
our troops were at liberty to travel in any state with- 
out molestation. 

I was detailed to make a series of experiments 
in the Navy Yard, and after Booth's body was brought 
to the Navy Yard and lay on board the "Montauk" this 
happened : ; 

I was called on board the Montauk by Leut. W. 
W. Crowninshield, to identify the body of John Wilkes 
Booth, which I did. I noticed a piece of cord about the 
size of a cod line on his (Booth's) neck and invited 
Crowninshield's attention to it, who pulled it out and 
on it was a small Roman Catholic medal. Surgeon 
General Barnes arrived at that moment and probed 
the wound in Booth's neck. 

I got a horse and buggy and drove down to Sur- 
rattville the following day. The house they saia 
belonged to Mrs. Surratt and had been leased 
to John M. Lloyd whom I knew. He was a 
policeman at Washington during all of Buchan- 
an's administration and bore an excellent repu- 
tation. I inquired of some boys whom I found very 
communicative. One boy said that Mr. Jenkins, broth- 
er of Mrs. Surratt, and Mr. Griffith and Mr. Wylie (or 



112 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




"^"H-h"--,'. I''' .^t 



MRS. MARY E. SURRATT 



Who "kept the nest that hatched the egg" — (President 
Andrew Johnson). 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 113 

Wyville) and Mr. Lloyd were all out that night listen- 
ing for the horses coming, that when the two men 
came, fresh horses were brought out of the stable, 
saddles transferred from the tired horses to the fresh, 
and the men rode on. 

On May 22, 1865, I went to Baltimore on duty in 
connection with the *Tensacola." 

The 'Washington Star" of May 12, 1865 gives 
Lloyd's testimony as follows : 

''Sometime ago two carbines and some pistols were 
left at my house. The Friday before the assassina- 
tion Mrs. Surratt came to my house and told me to 
have the carbines and pistols ready as two men would 
call for them. At the night of the assassination Booth 
and Herold rode up to the house; Herold dismounted, 
went in, and took a carbine and the pistols. Booth 
would not take his carbine on account of his lame 
ankle.'* 

The "Washington Star" of the 15th said: 

"Lloyd testified that it was John Surratt who 
brought the carbines. Watchman saw Mrs. Surratt. 
Booth, John Surratt, and Dr. Mudd together on Sev- 
enth Street, and that Booth was a frequent visitor at 
the house of Mrs. Surratt, and their interviews were 
always apart. 

I was retired from active duty by law 

in 1905 but continued on duty until 1906. The next 
year I passed some days at Poland Springs, Maine. 
Among other Washingtonians was Mr. Crosby Noyes, 
principal editor of the "Washington Star," who told 
me he was the reporter for the "Star" at the trial of 
the conspirators, and he was satisfied that Mrs. Sur- 
ratt and all the rest of them were guilty. 

I was at sea when John Surratt was tried. My 
information on that trial was that printed in the 
"Washington Star." Surratt was poor, but Mr. K. T. 
Merrick, a Roman Catholic Lawyer, was his principal 
counsel and it was commonly reported that he paid 
the entire expense of the trial. His associate counsel 
was Mr. Jos. Bradley, a famous criminal lawyer, who 



114 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

rarely, if ever, lost a case, and to whom the bad cases 
usually came. 

Quoting from the "Evening Star'* of September 
23, 1868: 

"Judge iVVylie on the bench, Messrs- Merrick and 
Bradley argued on a demur to the plea of the amnesty 
proclamation which had been issued by the government 
in favor of the Confederates who had been in arms 
against the government. Their purpose was to make it 
apply to the case of John Surratt who had been tried 
for conspiracy to murder the President, and in whose 
case a year ago the jury had hung. 

Merrick said the court was not technically a 
Court of the United States, wherein the judge held 
that the Court held that the Circuit Court of the 
District of Columbia was not on the same footing as 
the United States District Courts, though the judges 
of such Courts were vested with the same power. 

He would submit in view of the double character 
of the Court that to except a person of some felony 
he must be indicted for felony in some Circuit Court of 
the United States. He referred to the Bankrupt Act. 

Mr. Bradley referred the Court to several au- 
thorities. The Court suffered counsel to amend the 
plea. ■ M^i^ 

From the "Evening Star" of September 24,' 1858, 
Page 4, Column 2, viz: 

"A NEW MOVE BY THE DEFENSE, STATUTE 
OF LIMITATION, DISCHARGE OF THE PRISONER. 

"Mr. Merrick stated that he had presented a new 
j^lea. He claimed the indictment defective in that it 
did not aver that Surratt had not fled from Justice/' 

The paper stated that he walked out of the court 
unmolested. 

I saw the medal when it was taken off Booth's 
neck and I saw it afterwards in the War Department. 
It was kept in a safe of the Judge Advocate General. 
It was in a little tin box which also contained a news- 
paper scrap referring to it with the bullet from Booth's 
neck, and I think the derringer also. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LIN^COLN 115 

When I became superiiitondent of the S W. and 
Navy Department in 1895, I asked the messenger at 
the Judge Advocate GeneraFs door if the relics were 
still on exhibition as I wanted to show them to some 
friends, and he said that they were all there but the 
medal, that the Secretary of War, (Mr. Lamont) had 
sent for them to show some friends and forgot to re- 
turn them, and they remained on his desk four months, 
and when returned the medal was missing. 

John M. Lloyd, the Washington policeman in 
1857-9-60 bore a good reputation. I think the claim 
that he was intemperate or a sot as Mr. Brophy called 
him was all propaganda. A policeman knows how to 
testify and he knows the penalty. I was reluctant to 
believe Lloyd a conspirator until the boys at Sur- 
rattville told me of the story of Lloyd, Jenkins, Wylie, 
et al listening for the coming of Booth that night, and 
his testimony confirmed it. One of the propaganda 
writers says that Lloyd had to be awakened from a 
drunken stupor that night when Booth arrived, 
when the boys, who had no purpose to serve, told me 
that Lloyd was wide awake on the m^d listening for 
horses- They said that when the horses were plainly 
heard, that Lloyd, et al, went into the stable and 
brought out the fresh horses as if in a hurry. Lloyd 
and his wife (whom I also knew) were Roman Catho- 
lics, and I believe members of St. Dominic's Congre- 
gation. The testimony shows Lloyd drunk but once; 
it was when he met Mrs. Surratt in Uniontown, now 
called Anacostia, and that was on the eve of the fright- 
ful tragedy and he might have needed "Dutch courage." 
My impression was that the effort to damage Lloyd's 
character was for the sole purpose of impeaching his 
testimony. I always thought he found himself in se- 
rious trouble and told the truth to save his neck. 

Yours sincerely, 

G. W. BAIRD." 



116 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




Post mortem of Booth's body as it lay on the Monatuk, 
April 27, 1865. 



U. S. troops under Lieutenant Baker, surrounded 
the barn and ordered Booth to surrender, which he 
refused to do. *'Davy'* Herold, however, asked to sur- 
render and was allowed to come out. He was hand- 
cuffed and placed in charge of a squad of cavalrymen. 
The barn was finally fired by Colonel Conger. 

Booth, who could be now plainly seen by the light 
of the flames was peering out, when a bullet from the 
revolver of Sergt. Boston Corbett whizzed by and 
Booth crumpled up on the barn floor. He was dragged 
out by the soldiers and lay on the grass, apparently 
dead, but was revived by a dash of cold water in the 
face. The bullet had entered almost at the same spot 
in which his own bullet had pierced President Lincoln's 
head. He was carried and laid upon the porch in front 
of the Garrett house where he suffered several hours 
of the most intense agony. Noting his lips moving, 
an officer stooped down and heard him whisper: "Tell 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 117 

my mother — tell my mother — I died for my country — 
and did what I thought best." Indicating a desire that 
his paralyzed arms be held up, which was done, con- 
templating them, he murmured, "useless, useless." 
These were his last words. 

The body was taken by wagon to the river and 
placed on board the Gunboat Montauk and brought to 
Washington, and Armiral Baird was one of the men 
who made positive identification. 

From Adm. Baird's letter one would gather that 
as late as the winter of *64, only a few months previous 
to Booth's coming to Washington, he was indifferent 
on the subject of the war. The fact that he was in New 
Orleans where he would have been very safe in express- 
ing his opinion in favor of the South would seem to 
indicate he had no great feeling on the subject. 

There is no doubt in the writer's mind but that 
Clara Morris was perfectly right in her statement 
that John Wilkes Booth was the victim chosen from 
the beginning and that he "Drew the lot" after his 
New Orleans engagement where Adm. Baird had seen 
him. From the time he registered at the National Ho- 
tel in November, 1864, it is plainly evident that he 
became obscessed with the idea, and the working of 
the virus is traceable in his every act from that time 
on. He lost all interest in his profession, — a thing 
in itself most remarkable, for which we can only ac- 
count in the one way. 

John Harrison Surratt, the nineteen-year-old son 
of Mrs Mary E. Surratt, who was chosen by the Jesuits 
as the arch conspirator in the assassination of Abra- 
ham Lincoln, had studied three years in preparation 
for the Roman priesthood at the Sulpician Fathers 
monastery, at Charles County, Maryland, previous to 
the breaking out of the Civil war. The Sulpician Fath- 
ers is a branch of the Jesuit order. In 18'62 young Sur- 
ratt was called to his home in Surrattville, a crossroads 
village IB miles south of Washington, by the death 
of his father. The elder Surratt had been a railroad 
contractor, and had accumulated some money 



118 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

which was partly invested in slaves and in plantation 
and tavern at Surrattville where he served as post- 
master at the time of his demise. 

The family consisted of Isaac, the eldest son, a 
civil engineer, who enlisted in the Southern Cause at 
the very beginning of the war and who the last heard 
of him had joined Max'imilian's forces in Mexico; 
Anna, the only daughter, a girl in her early twenties, 
and John H., the youngest. 

The Surratts were all ardent secessionists and fa- 
natical Roman Catholics. Mrs. Surratt was, early 
in life, perverted to Romanism from the Protestant 
faith. Her children were Romanists from birth. 

That John Harrison Surratt, was cool, clever, cal- 
culating and crafty, far in advance of his years, is 
shown by the fact that at the very beginning of the 
Rebellion he was selected to do important work in the 
southern secret service, bearing the most important 
dispatches from Jefferson Davis at Richmond to his 
agents at Washington and to the members of his 
"kitchen cabinet" in Montreal, Canada. On his return 
home from the monastery near Baltimore, John Sur- 
ratt was sworn in as postmaster in his father^s place 
at Surrattville. His Jesuit training enabled him to 
lift his hand and swear undivided allegiance to the 
United States. So much for a Jesuit's oath. To get 
a complete estimate of John Surratt's part in the dia- 
bolical conspiracy to murder President Lincoln and 
other heads of this government we must fully consid- 
er the preliminary training he received. 

This boy, (for we must remember that he was 
but in his teens, at his entrance into this plot,) was 
never free from the espionage and evil influence of 
the Romish church from his baptism in infancy to the 
day of his death at the age of seventy-two years. When 
he was but twelve years old he was placed in Gonzaga 
College, Washington, D. C, a Catholic preparatory 
school, under the tutorage of Priest Wiget, who was 
the confessor for years of both himself and his moth- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 119 

er. After leaving Gonzaga College he spent two years 
at Georgetown m the Jesuit College before leaving 
tor the Sulpician Fathers monastery. 1 am calling the 
attention of the reader to this fact when you come to 
pass judgment on this young man, that you may 
place the blame for his conduct where it belongs — 
on the Jesuit psychology inculcated by the priests of 
the Roman Church.. 

That he was a leader and a dependable one, in 
this conspiracy of wholesale assassination, is shown 
by the fact that the object of John Wilkes Booth's 
first visit to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Howard 
County, Maryland, was to learn the whereabouts in 
Washington of John Surratt. 

Young Surratt, had then, never the slightest 
chance or desire to escape from the deadly vims. This 
virus stultified every noble aspiration, every natural 
affection, every personal ambition, even the strongest 
instinct in the human mind, — self-preservation is 
thrust aside when the victim hears the call of duty 
to ''the holy mother church." Then, mother love, 
father love, brother love — all, all, must yield to this 
cursed thing This complete mental control which 
Rome exercises over its dupes whom it per- 
mits to have no more will of their own, nor resistance, 
than that of a cadaver. Terinda ac cadaver." (as a 
corpse) to be moved here, or there, at the will of the 
manipulator. The Roman Catholic child is thus handi- 
capped at birth, yes, there is a prenatal influence as 
the study of these two characters in this tragic drama 
will disclose. The mother, Mary E. Surratt, the inti- 
mate associate of priests, her soul deadened by the 
fatal virus of the Jesuit training, passed on to her son 
the terrible inheritance which made him wax in the 
black hands of the Vatican intriguers, to mold as they 
would. 

During Surratt's theological training he had 
studied St. Thomas Aquinas, who justifies the assas- 
sination of heretics, or any one who apostacises from 
the Romish church. It was a significant and eloquent 



120 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

fact that the Jesuits released from time to time during 
the war the report that President Lincoln had been, in 
his infancy, baptized by Catholic priest. On one of 
his visits to the White House of the Rev. Charles 
Chiniquy to warn President Lincoln of his danger in 
assassination, Mr. Lincoln is quoted by Chiniquy in 
his book "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome" as 
follows : 

"Father Chiniquy, I want your views about a 
thing which is exceedingly puzzling to me and you 
are the only one to whom I would like to speak on 
the subject. A great number of Democratic newspapers 
have been sent me lately, evidently written by Roman 
Catholics, publishing that I was born a Roman Catho- 
lic and baptized by a priest. They called me a renegade 
and apostate on account of that, and they heaped upon 
my head mountains of abuse. Now, no priest of Rome 
has ever laid his hand on my head. But the persist- 
ency of the Romish press to present this falsehood to 
their readers as gospel truth, must have a meaning. 
Please tell me, as briefly as possible, what you think 
about it." 

This, Mr- Chiniquy answered, was done solely to 
incite and justify the act in the minds of some of 
their fanatics to assassinate the President. It was the 
equivalent to a command, as it afterward proved. 

From their first meeting Booth and Surratt busied 
themselves selecting their associates. David Herold was 
undoubtedly the choice of John Surratt who had known 
him from his college days, evidently, at Georgetown 
University. The testimony of Louis J. Weichmann, 
college chum of Surratt and the State's chief 
witness, at the trials of the conspirators shows 
that Surratt had introduced him to David Her- 
old as one of the members of the Washington Ma- 
rine Band which had serenaded the Surratt Tavern at 
midnight on one occasion when Weichmann was spend- 
ing the week-end there. This was a year before Booth's 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 121 




MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN. 



Delegated to assassinate General Grant. Died in Dry Tor- 
tugas after serving three years, of yellow fever epidemic. 



122 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

appearance in Washington. There is no doubt but that 
all the conspirators were members of the Knights of 
the Golden Circle; there is also no doubt that while 
some of them were nominal Protestants they were whol- 
ly papalized, certainly they were not Protestants. All 
through the testimony we see that Booth and Aster- 
odt were at *'mass." It is morally certain that Booth 
himself had been secretly taken into the Roman 
Church when he was given the "Agnus Dei" medai 
which was taken from his neck. The significance of 
this medal is: The translation of ''Agnus Dei" is 
"Lamb of God ; it indicates sacrifice, — the shedding of 
blood. The writer is informed by an ex-Romanist who 
examined the medal that it was made m Rome, proba- 
bly sent direct from the Pope as was the Pope IXth's 
letter to Jeff Davis, a distinction which would tend to 
flatter the vanity of John Wilkes Booth. 

Michael O'Loughlin, another conspirator, was 
from Baltimore and was, as his name would indicate, 
a Roman Catholic Irishman. 

Sam Arnold, it appears, had attended the same 
school with John Wilkes Booth in their childhood and 
was a nominal Protestc.nt. 

George Asterodt was the "rough" man, that is the 
uneducated and uncultured one, who was probably an 
Austrian Catholic, but not over religious. He attend- 
ed Mass with Louis Weichmann at the Piscataway 
Church and St. Patrick's church in Washington. 

Lewis Payne, the atheletic young giant who was 
delegated to murder Seward, Secretary of State and al- 
most accomplished this deed, really showed more 
strength of character and less cowardice than any of 
the other conspirators. As far as is known he was the 
son of a Protestant minister. He refused to tell any- 
thing about himself, but when he went to his death 
he was courageous to a degree that astonished the 
newsnaper correspondents and other spectators. 

Edw. Spangler, another conspirator, was a roust- 
about employee at Ford's Theatre, much given to 
drink- He had great admiration for John Booth and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 123 

was a decided Southern sympathizer with a pronounced 
dislike for Abraham Lincoln, which he had often ex- 
pressed. 

About November 1st, 1863, Mrs. Surratt and her 
family moved to their residence at 541 H. St., Wash- 
ington, D. C, where she opened a select boarding 
house. Select to the extent that there were no "her- 
etics" among her boarders. The first to come was 
Louis J. Weichmann, who had been for three years a 
classmate of John Surratt's at the Sulpician Monas- 
tery where Weichmann also was preparing for the 
Roman priesthood. From the very first Weichmann 
and Surratt were bosom friends. Weichmann was born 
in Baltimore in 1843 and was the son of a merchant 
tailor who was a staunch Lutheran. The wife was a 
devout Roman Catholic. The family consisted of two 
boys and three girls, all of whom were brought up in 
the faith of their mother. Both boys, Louis, and the 
second boy, Frederick, were studying for the Roman 
priesthood. 

With the breaking out of the Civil War Louis 
Weichmann's college studies were interrupted and he 
came to Washington where he obtained a position as 
professor at Gonzaga College, when John Surratt first 
learned of his presence in Washington. 

During the Spring vacation of '63, young Weich- 
mann proposed that he and Surratt pay a visit to their 
Alma Mater near Baltimore. They were received with 
warm cordiality by both professors and students 
who were eager to learn the progress of the 
war,etc. During this visit, according to documentary 
evidence to be introduced later on, both young men 
freely express their pro-Southern views. Before 
leaving the institution Louis Weichmann announced 
his intention of going to Little Texas, or Ellengown, 
where he had taught the parochial school for the Cath- 
olic priest there, before entering college. The Rev. 
Denis, prefect of the Sulpician Monastery told him that 
the teacher at that time in Little Texas was Henri de 
St. Marie, who had been a former pupil of Denis in 
Montreal; that he was a fine young man who spoke 



X24 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

French and Italian fluently. He asked Weichmann if 
he would hand him an Italian paper when he called up- 
on him. On reaching Little Texas, Mr. Weichmann de- 
livered the paper and introduced his friend Surratt to 
the young Canadian. This was the beginning of an 
acquaintance which was to end very disastrously for 
Surratt. 

A few days before Christmas, 1864, young Weich- 
mann invited Surratt to go with him over to Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue to select some Christmas gifts for his sis- 
ters in Philadelphia. As they were nearing the Avenue 
on 7th Street, Weichmann said, '*John, someone is call- 
ing you," and Surratt, turning, saw Dr. Mudd of Bryan- 
town and a younger man with him, whom he intro- 
duced as John Wilkes Booth. After the introductions 
were over Booth invited the party up to his room at 
the National Hotel, where he ordered wine and cigars 
for the group. From this meeting on John Booth was 
a constant visitor at the Surratt home on H Street, 
which was the rendezvous of the conspirators up to 
the very day of the assassination. It was also the 
mecca of various Roman Catholic priests, among 
whom were the Reverends Walters and Wiget of St. 
Patrick's Church, 10th and G Streets, of which the 
Surratts were members. 

Before closing this chapter in reference to the 
religion of John Wilkes Booth I might say that his 
family were members of the Episcopal church in 
Baltimore. 

Edwin A. Sherman, Past Grand Registrar of the 
Grand Consistory of the Thirty-second of the Ancient 
ftnd Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the 
State of California, in his book entitled "Engineer 
Corps of Hell" on page 213, has this to say: 

"It has been told to us, coming from what 
we believe to be true authority, that Booth, about 
three weeks before he committed the crime, was 
admitted to the Roman Catholic church, and pri- 
vately received the sacraments from no less a 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 125 

personage than Archbishop Spaulding himself, 
which he did to silence any conscientious scruples 
that he might have in taking Abraham Lincoln's 
life, and that he might have the whole influence 
and syrnpathy of persons in that faith in pro- 
tecting and concealing himself when the act was 
done, to aid him in it. He certainly had that aid 
and influence in planning and accomplishing his 
hellish work and in making his escape, and it 
could not have been more cheerfully and faithful- 
ly rendered than it was, even if he had been a 
Jesuit priest himself. We believe the statement 
to be true ; and it was but a short time after thai 
Archbishop Spaulding received a donation of 
funds for the specific purpose which was to uni- 
form and equip a military body in the same man- 
ner and style as the Papal Guard at Rome. 

'The uniforms, muskets, cartridge boxes and 
belts all bearing the Papal coat of arms and con- 
secrated by the Pope himself, were sent to Arch- 
bishop Spaulding at Baltimore; and when he died 
he was buried with military honors and his re- 
mains escorted by the same military bodyguard. 
The entire diocese of Archbishop Spaulding was 
rebel to the core and fierce in its hatred of Lia- 
coln. 

In a recent book written by one of Rome's apol- 
ogists, we find that John Wilkes Booth was by "re- 
Hgion a Roman Catholic ; by politics a Democrat.'' 



Chapter Vin. 

The Blackest Deed In American History. 



And now we come to that darkest day in the histo- 
ry of our RepubHc, April 14th, 1865. The Surrender of 
Lee, April 3rd, to the "Little Smoking General" Grant, 
came like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, and was 
a terrific blow to the hopes of the South, as well as 
unexpected victory to the North. The people were wild 
with enthusiastic joy. We can get some conception of 
that word after four years of the bitterest civil war, 
we, who have the news of the Armistice still fresh in 
our memories in the recent World War which was sev- 
eral thousand miles away. 

The figure of Abraham Lincoln will ever stand 
out on the page of our history, never to be effaced, 
not only in the minds of the people of his own country, 
but in those of the Peoples of the World, as the savior 
of the New Concept of Government! 

Lincoln, that great, sad-faced man, with his 
shoulders drooping under the terrible burdens which 
he had patiently carried for four long years, breathed 
a sigh of relief when he arose this bright balmy April 
morning and gazed at nature's gay spring garb. 

During breakfast with his family he had suggested 
to his good wife Mary, that they two alone should take 
a long drive in the country which called so strongly 
to this heavy laden man. Accordingly, after a few pre- 
liminary office duties were gotten out of the way, 
the President returned to the White House, and he and 
Mrs. Lincoln got into their carriage and drove out 
through the city over the Potomac River bridge into 
the country. The fruit trees were white with blossoms, 
the roadsides green, and the very birds flitting in and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 127 





Ford's Theatre, Wasihington House on Tenth St. 

D. C. U. S. Government property where President Lincoln 
as it appears today. Exterior un- died April 15, 1865. Now 
changed. ^ Lincoln Memorial Collec- 

tion. 



out through the hedges seemed to surpass them selves 
with their songs. ^^lUii 

President Lincoln began to talk of their future. 
He confessed to her that he would welcome the day 
w^hen his administration would be over, and they could 
return to private life, never to leave it again. "I have 
managed, my dear, by strict economy, to save a little 
nest egg out of my salary, so we will go back to 
Springfield to live, and I hope not have to work quite 
so hard. We can visit with our friends and neighbors 
and enjoy life a bit. Then he unfolded to her his plans 
to take up his law practice again and the threads of 
life where he had left them when he came to Washing- 
ton, a little over four years ago. After driving several 



128 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

hours, and being rested by the quiet of the country 
and sweet breath of spring, this great simple-hearted, 
plain man and his wife returned to the White House. 

I cannot but contrast that last morning on earth 
of Abraham Lincoln and his modest plans, with the 
conduct of Woodrow Wilson and his dozens of trunks, 
which carried the elaborate wardrobes of himself and 
wife to Europe. The sinful extravagance of this peda- 
gogical upstart! It seems almost sacrilegious to men- 
tion him in the same paragraph with Lincoln. 

The day began for John Wilkes Booth with his 
usual trip to Graves Theatre where he received his 
mail. This morning he had several letters, and after 
chatting pleasantly with the members of the cast 
present for rehearsal, as was his custom, he sauntered 
away toward the Kirkwood house, now the Raleicrh, 
where the Vice President was stopping. He sent un the 
following card to Mr. Johnson, which is still, and per- 
haps, always will remain a mystery: 

"For Mr- Andrew Johnson: 

Don*t wish to disturb vou : are vou at home ? 

John Wilkes Booth." 

After his call at the Kirkwood House, he went 
to the livery barn of J. Pumohreys on C Street, back 
of the National Hotel. Here he enoraged a horse to be 
ready that afternoon at four thirty o'clock. He had 
been in the habit lately of hiring his horses here after 
he had sold his own a few weeks previous. TTnon this 
occasion he asked for a particular sorrel horse which 
he preferred, but was told it was out Pt that time, 
so he took instead a small bay mare. Booth was an er- 
T>ert horseman and fencer, and spent a great deal of 
his time in horseback riding and the latter amuse- 
ment, when he found a man who was skillful enough 
fo interest him. After his prrane^ement for the horse 
was completed, he spent a larsre part of the dav con- 
ferring with the other conspirators, who were in the 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 129 

city, Mrs. Surratt, John Surratt, O'Laughlin, Herold, 
Spangler and Atzerodt. 

The evening of this same day, April 14, 1865, on 
which Mr. Lincoln and his wife went for their last 
drive in the country, the managers of Ford's Theatre 
featured the fact in the local press that the President 
and Gen. U. S. Grant would attend the performance 
of "Our American Cousin" at that theatre in the even- 
ing. This would have been the first public appearance 
of General Grant since the surrender of Lee, and the 
word that the people would have an opportunity to 
greet their hero that night at Ford's Theatre made 
a rush on the box office, and the performance openea 
with a packed house. 

^ The Presidential party did not arrive until nine 
thirty. When the tall, gaunt figure of the tired- 
eyed President made its appearance in the flag-draped 
box the house went wild with delight, and the orches- 
tra struck up "Hail to the Chief;" the house arose as 
one body, and enthusiasm was inspiring. For several 
minutes the cheering continued and the President bow- 
ed and bowed his acknowledgements. 

The absence of General Grant was soon noticed, 
but this did not dampen the welcome for the great 
man who had sent out, but a few days previous, the 
most wonderful — the most extraordinary message to 
a conquered enemy the world had ever heard, namely, 
for them to return to their homes, and help in the re- 
construction of the Republic. No punishments, no crit- 
icisms, no bitterness, but just simply to return to 
their homes and set about rebuilding what they had 
tried to destroy, in a spirit of "With charity for all 
and malice toward none." 

The President and Mrs. Lincoln, upon receiving 
the regrets of General Grant and wife, who had been 
called to the bedside of their daughter. Miss Nellie, 
who was ill at a private boarding school in New Jersey, 
had invited Mai or Rathbone, lately returned from the 
front, and his fiance, Miss Harris, daughter of Senator 
Harris, to accompany them. The party seated them- 



130 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

selves after the long ovation given the President, and 
turned their whole attention to the pastoral comedy of 
which Mr. Lincoln was very fond. 

Miss Laura Keene was playing the star lead that 
evening, assisted by a cast of prominent and capable 
actors, and the play went with a zest, thv3 audience 
receiving it with a gale of laughter as one funny scene 
after another passed- The President chuckled quietly 
in his own peculiar quizzical manner .While this bril- 
liant scene was taking place inside, a most unusual 
play was transpiring on the outside. 

Sergt. Dye, a member of the government service 
was sitting in front of the restaurant next door to 
the entrance of the theatre on Tenth Street, talking 
with some other men who were enioying the warm 
evening and their cigars, when a tall young man well 
dressed, stepped to the front of the theatre on the 
sidewalk, and in clear tones called the time. This did 
not attract any particular attention until he had re- 
peated it at an interval of every fifteen minutes for 
the third time, at ten fifteen. He disappeared and Sgt. 
Dye's curiousity was aroused by his strange conduct. 
He got up and started to walk in the direction the 
young stranger had taken, when wild cries and con- 
fusion within the theatre reached the street. "The 
President is shot," "The President is killed," finally 
was clearly heard- The entrance doors burst open, and 
men, insane with fright bolted out giving the call to 
those on the pavement, then rushed back in. It all hap- 
pened quicker than it takes to write it. 

At a moment before the last call of the time in 
front of the theatre, John Wilkes Booth, the popular 
young tragedian, stepped out of the bar-room attached 
to the theatre on Tenth Street, where he had called for 
several brandies, walked rapidly into the front lobby, 
passed the doorman at the center aisle with a genial 
nod, calling him familiarly by name, which was 
answered in the spirit which John Booth's greet- 
ings generally were. He passed over to the side 
aisle and started down when his passage wasi 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 131 




,' H'^'^'^ f^^^MW^'^'^f^l 








^>*':'\ / 







JOHN WILKES BOOTH FIRING THE FATAL BULLET 



barred by the arm of the head usher, who happened 
to be talking with friends in the aisle. Booth put his 
arm across the shoulder of the man who had his back 
to him and peering into his face said, ''Why you 
don't' want to keep me out, do you, old boy?" This was 
in the melodious Booth voice, once heard, never to be 
forgotten. The usher, swinging around said, ''No, in- 
deed, Mr. Booth. Allow me to present you to my 
friends/' Booth acknowledged the introduction gra- 
ciously and turning, sauntered down the aisle toward 
the box occupied by the Presidential party, intent on 
the most cruel, cowardly murder in all the world's 
history. 



132 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

He passed the man on guard, who for the monr>ent 
left the door of the box and was watching the play 
from a seat nearby. 

Booth entered the box, stealthily placing the 
board in the socket on the inside which had been made 
ready that day, by Spangler, the stage carpenter. 

Booth's entrance was so quiet that it attracted 
no attention from any of the party, all of whom had 
their eyes fixed upon the stage where only two people 
were, — Laura Keene and Harry Hawks as Asa Trench- 
ard. The lines and situation were exceedingly funny 
and the house was uproariously enjoying the comedy. 

Booth, after securing the door from any inter- 
ference from the outside, crept panther-like close to 
the back of the President's chair, whipped out his der- 
ringer with his right hand and a dagger with his left, 
placing the revolver just above the back of the chair. 
There was a muffled report, a whiff of smoke, and 
the President's head dropped upon his breast. The in- 
truder darted toward the railing in front of the box, 
but before he reached it. Major Rathbone, horror- 
stricken, but not really knowing just what had hap- 
pened, bounded to his feet. He reached out to grab the 
assassin, who, dropping his revolver, slashed viciously 
at him, warding him off by an ugly stab which cut his 
sleeve from shoulder to wrist from which the blood 
spurted. With the agility of the skilled athlete that 
he was, Booth sprang over the balustrade of the box 
onto the stage twelve feet below, but his stirrup, for 
he was in riding habit, caught in the large American 
flag which had been draped around Stuart's 
Washington on the front of the box, and he fell to 
the stage, breaking a small bone in his leg. He bounded 
to his feet instantly and darted away from the stage 
past the petrified actors, out through the rear door, 
where he mounted his horse which he had gotten the 
candy butcher, called "Peanuts" to hold for him just 
before he entered the front door a few moments pre- 
vious. Jos. B. Stewart, a man from the audience, 
who had taken in the situation before others in the au- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 133 

dience had recovered from their horror, scrambled to 
the stage yelling ''Stop that man" and rushed after 
the assassin, but just as Booth darted through the 
alley door someone in the dark slammed it shut before 
Stewart reached it and before he could get it opened, 
the man mounted his horse and dashed madly away 
in the darkness. 

Spangler, the stage carpenter, the testimony de- 
veloped, was the man who had slammed the door. 
He had been heard to promise his assistance to Booth 
earlier in the evening when he had dismounted from 
his horse. For this and disloyal statements about the 
President which he had been heard to make, he re- 
ceived a sentence of six years at the Dry Tortugas 
prison. 

The gaunt body of the dying President was tender- 
ly carried out of the theatre on the door of the box, 
which had been hastily pressed into service as a 
stretcher, across the street to the three story brick 
house of a man by the name of Peterson, who let 
his rooms furnished to the business men employed at 
the stores and nearby theatres. 

The stretcher-bearers carried him to the bedroom 
in the rear of the hall on the first floor and into a room 
occupied by a returned soldier, William Clark by name. 
The bed was a single bed and the body of the Presi- 
dent had to be laid diagonally across on account of his 
great height. 

The pitiful scene here can scarcely be portrayed 
by words. The hysterical sobs of Mrs. Lincoln and her 
constant cry of "Oh, why did they not take me- Why 
did they take him?" was heart-breaking. 

Capt. Robert Lincoln just returned from the front 
a few days before, was immediately summoned from 
the White House, where he was entertaining a college 
classmate, to the bedside of his dying father. He spent 
the time alternately trying to com.fort his mother in 
the front parlor and watching at the bedside of his 
dying father- 

Soon the members of Mr. Line )^n's cabinet had 



134 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

gathered in the sick room and Dr. Gurley, Protestant 
/ninister, and Surgeon General Barna-i, came as soon 
as possible from the bedside of the Secretary of State 
Seward, the Surgeon having been called there after 
Mr. Seward had been stabbed by L-^uis Payne. Mr. 
Seward was now hovering between life and death. 
General Stanton, the cold, severe, dignified man, who 
had never been known to show any emotion, dropped 
on his knees at the foot of the President's 
bed, buried his face in the covering and sobbed 
like a child. Charles Summer, who, perhaps, loved Lin- 
coln with the deepest and most ardent love of them 
all, never stirred from his place at the bed, holding his 
hand, and aiding the physicians, and watching with 
bated breath for the slightest sign of returning con- 
sciousness. But the wounded man never for one in- 
stant recovered, and died without knowing what had 
occurred. From the moment the physicians first reach- 
ed him and found the wound, they knew he was 
doomed. 

The President never regained consciousness and 
died a few minutes after seven the next morning. 
Charles Sumner as he watched the life of the great 
man go out, turned to those in the room and said: 
"And now, he belongs to the angels!'' 

At the same time that Booth assassinated the 
President, Louis Payne, known as the "Florida Boy" 
an athletic young giant, who some months before 
joined the Conspiracy, rode up to the front of the res- 
idence of the Secretary of State, William Seward, and 
tied his horse to the hitching post. 

Mr- Seward had been ill for three weeks, suffering 
from a fractured jaw, the result of the running away 
of his team, and was under the constant care of male 
nurses. 

Payne rang the bell and it was answered by the 
colored butler. He told the latter that he had been sent 
with some medicine which he must take to the sick 
room. The butler refused to allow him to enter, saying 
that he had orders to allow no one to go to Mr. Sew- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 135 




WILLIAM H. SEWARD, 
Lincoln's Secretary of State who was stabbed' by Louis Payne. 



136 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ard's room. The stranger, after a short struggle, 
knocked him down, and went bounding up the stairs. 
He rushed into the sick chamber, after feUing each 
of the two sons of the Secretary, one of whom had 
been in the service, the blow fracturing the skull of 
the younger man from which he never fully recovered- 
He then sprang upon the sick man and seriously 
stabbed him three times. By a superhuman effort the 
latter struggled out of the bed with his assailant who 
left him in a heap on the floor, bleeding from the 
wounds he had inflicted. After his murderous assault 
on Secretary Seward, the ruffian rushed down the 
stairs, yelling at the top of his voice, '*I am mad, J am 
mad," and he very probably was. He was entirely un- 
der the control of the hypnotic influences of the wr^ked 
people in whose power he had allowed himself to be. 

It was part of the plan that Michael O'Laughlin 
one of the conspirators from Baltimore, was to have 
murdered General Grant that night. This was not 
possible, owing to the change in the General's plans- 

To Atzerodt, it fell to assassinate Vice President 
Johnson, but he became frightened and spent the day 
riding into the country on a horse from the livery 
barn in Washington, where he was found several days 
after with relatives of his below Washington. He made 
a written confession before he was executed which 
confirmed the presence of Surratt in Washington that 
day a fact, which nine reputable witnesses had sworn 
to 

Booth familiarized himself with every road leading 
out of Washington to the south, and had studied and 
planned his escape with careful attention. It is not 
likely that he would ever have been caught, had h? 
not broken the small bone in his left leg in his jump. 
This was the providential handicap which hampered 
not only himself and Herold, but those of his friends 
who were ready to assist him. There is not the slight- 
est doubt but that every mile of that wild ride had 
been planned in advance, — weeks in advance- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 137 




THE SURRATT HOUSE ON H. STREET, APRIL 1922. 



Recently sold for $10,500. Is occupied by owner. Supposed 
to be ''haunted" by Mrs. Surratt's ghost. Stoop and steps re- 
moved by recent purchaser. 



138 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The intense agony which Booth suffered every 
moment from the time he first met with the accident 
when jumping from the box doomed his chances of 
escape. 

The little bay mare dashed madly along under the 
cruel urge of his spurs as he sped over the bridge 
which spanned the Potomac to the Bryantown road. 
He passed the soldier at the bridge, after having told 
him his name, and was swallowed up in the blackness 
of the night. The moon was veiled behind a huge bank 
of clouds. Presently the guard at the bridge heard 
the clatter of another horse's hoofs approaching and 
the horse and rider soon hove in sight onto the bridge. 
The guard stopped him and asked an account of him- 
self before allowing him to go on. This was Herold 
and in explanation he gave a false name saying that 
he had been in bad company which delayed him from 
returning home before sundown. He was permitted 
to pass. He cut his spurs into his horse and sped along, 
finally catching up to the first rider, Booth, be- 
fore they reached Surrattville, whither they were 
expected by the tenant Lloyd who had been visited 
by Mrs. Surratt that afternoon who had instructed 
him (Lloyd) to ''Have those shooting irons" and other 
things ready, that they would be needed that night. 

Herold drew up to the tavern, sprang from his 
horse and dashed madly into the bar-room, saying: 
"Lloyd, for God's sake, make haste and get those 
things.'* 

Lloyd testified at the trials that he gave the car- 
bines which had been left six weeks before with him 
to be called for later on; that Mrs. Surratt had been 
driven down from Washington on Friday (the 14th) 
to his house by Weichmann; that he met them on the 
road on his way to Washington ; that he got out of his 
buggy and went over to the side of their buggy and 
after a few moments of conversation she told him to 
"Have those shooting irons ready; that they would 
be called for soon." 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 139 

Weichmann also testified that he overheard this 
order by Mrs. Surratt. 

Mrs. Surratt brought with her on this trip (the 
day of the assassination) a package containing Booth's 
field glass, to be handed out when called for. Herold took 
a bottle of whiskey out to Booth, who, owing to his suf- 
fering, did not come in. They only took one of the revol- 
vers, so Lloyd testified. Herold turned as he was about 
to drive off and said: "Fm pretty sure that we have 
assassinated the President and Secretary Seward. 

The two riders put their spurs into their horses 
and set off down the road to the little village of T. B. 
at full speed. The next stop was made at the resi- 
dence of Dr. Samuel A. Hudd, where they arrived at four 
o'clock on Saturday morning. This conspirator housed 
them and set the bone in Booth's leg. He bound it up 
in splints improvised from pieces of a cigar box, after 
which Booth was helped upstairs to bed where he re- 
mained until the afternoon of the same day. 

O'Laughlin had come to Washington on Thursday, 
the day before the assassination, with three of his 
co-religionists and prepared to make a perfectly good 
bullet-proof alibi for their friend O'Laughlin, v/hich is 
the rule with Roman Catholic criminals. They were so 
solicitous in this intent that they over-reached them- 
selves and spoiled it. 

The great grievance of the Catholic church is that 
Mary E. Surratt was brought before a Military tri- 
bunal, instead of a civil court. The real basis of this 
complaint, was however, that there could be no po- 
litical influence brought to bear on a military court, 
which the hanging of four conspirators and life sen- 
tences of the three others bears out. As it is not with- 
in the power of the writer to present the facts in any 
simpler or more readable language than that used in 
the closing argument of the special Judge Advocate, 
John A. Bingham, I shall rely on excerpts from that 
document to give the facts. 



Chapter IX. 

The Trials Of The Assassins By Docu- 
mentary Evidence. 



ARGUMENT OF JOHN A. BINGHAM, Special Judge 
Advocate. 

IN REPLY TO THE SEVERAL ARGUMENTS IN 
DEFENSE OF MARY E. SURRATT AND OTHERS, 
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY AND THE MUR- 
DER OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, LATE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES, ETC. 

May it please the Court: The conspiracy here 
charged and specified and the acts alleged to have been 
committed in pursuance thereof, and with the intent 
laid, constitute a crime, the atrocity of which has sent 
a shudder through the civilized world. All that was 
agreed upon and attempted by the alleged inciters and 
instigators of this crime constitutes a combination of 
atrocities with scarcely a parallel in the annals of 
the human race. Whether the prisoners at youv bar are 
guilty of the conspiracy and the acts alleged to have 
been done. . . as set forth in the charge and specifica- 
tion, is a question, the determination of which rests 
solely with this honorable court, and in passing upon 
which, this court are the sole judges of the law and 
the fact. 

In presenting my views upon the questions of law 
raised by the several counsel by the defense, and also 
on the testimony adduced for and against the accused, 
I desire to be just to them, just to you, just to my 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 141 

country, and just to my own convictions. The issue 
joined involves the highest interests of the accused, 
and, in my judgment, the highest interests of the whole 
people of the United States .... A wrongful and ille- 
gal conviction, or a wrongful and illegal acquittal 
upon this dread issue, would impair somewhat the se- 
curity of every man's life, and shake the stability of 
the Republic. 

The crime charged and specified upon your record 
is not simply the crime of murdering a human being, 
but it is a crime of killing and murdering on the 14th 
day of April, A. D. 1865, within the Military Depart- 
ment of Washington and the entrenched lines thereof, 
Abraham Lincoln, then President of the United States, 
and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy there ; 
and then and there assaulting with intent to kill and 
murder, Wm. H. Seward, then Secretary of State of the 
United States; and then and there lying in wait to 
kill and murder Andrew Johnson, the Vice President 
of the United States, and Ulysses S. Grant, then Lieu- 
tenant General and in Command of the Army of the 
United States, in pursuance of a treasonable conspir- 
acy entered into by the accused with one John Wilkes 
Booth, and John H. Surratt, upon the instigation of 
Jefferson Davis, Jacob Thompson, Clement C- Clay. 
George N. Sanders and others, with intent thereby to 
aid the existing Rebellion and subvert the Constitution 
and laws of the United States. 

The Government in preferring this charge, does not 
indict the whole people of any State or section, but 
only the alleged parties to this unnatural and atrocious 
crime. The President of the United States in the dis- 
charge of his duty as Commander-in-Chief of the Army 
and by virtue of the power invested in him by the Con- 
stitution and laws of the United States, has consi- 
tuted you a military court, to hear and determine the 
issue joined against the accused, and has constituted 
you a court for no other purpose whatever. To this 
charge and specification the defendants have pleaded 
first, that this court has no jurisdiction in the prem- 
ises; and, secondly, not guilty. 



142 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

After a careful covering of every point raised by 
the defense, embellished with numerous citations of 
legal authorities and court decisions as to both of the 
points raised by the defense, the Judge Advocate con- 
tinues : 

"It only remains for me to sum up the evidence 
and present my views of the law arising upon the facts 
in the case on trial. The questions of fact involved 
in the issue are: 

First, did the accused, or any two of them, con- 
federate and conspire together as charged ? — and 

Second, did the accused, or any of them, in pur- 
ance of such conspiracy, and with the intent alleged, 
commit either or all of the several acts specified ? 

If the conspiracy be established, as laid, it results 
that whatever was said or done by either of the parties 
in the furtherance or execution of the common design 
is the declaration or act of all the other parties of 
the conspiracy; and this whether the other parties, 
at the time such words were uttered, or such acts 
done by their confederates, were p>'3sent or absent — 
here, within the entrenched lines of your Capitol, or 
crouching behind the entrenched lines of Richmond, 
or awaiting the results of their murderous plot against 

their country, in Canada The same rule obtains 

in cases of treason- . A conspiracy is rarely if ever 
proved by positive testimony. When a crime of high 
magnitude is about to be perpetrated by a combination 
of individuals, they do not act openly, but covertly and 
secretly. The purpose formed is known only to those 
who enter into it -Unless one of the origixial con- 
spirators betray his companions and give evidence 
against them, their guilt can be proved only by circum- 
stantial evidence." 

During the course of Judge Advocate Bingham's 
address the influence of the Jesuit theology showed 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 143 




THE OLD CAPITOL PRISON, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
Court room where conspirator trials were conducted in July, 
1865. 



up in his reference to Jacob Thompson, one of the con- 
spirators referred to, who was a leader in the group 
of Confederates of Montreal, when he said: 

"In speaking of this assassination of the Presi- 
dent and others, Jacob Thompson said that it was 
only removing them from office, that the killing of a 
tyrant was no murder." 

Emanuel Sa, a Jesuit authority, said, 'The tyrant 
is illegitimate; and any man whatever of the people 
has a right to kill him. (Uniquis - que de populo potest 
occidere.) But note this bit of evidence referred to by 
the distinguished lawyer: 



"Dr. Merritt testified further that after this meet- 
ing in Montreal he had a conversation with Clement 



144 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

C. Clay in Toronto about the letter from Jefferson 
Davis which Sanders had exhibited and in which con- 
versation Clay gave the witness to understand that 
he knew the nature of the letter perfectly and re- 
marked that he thought, "The end would justify the 
means." The witness also testified to the presence of 
Booth with Sanders in Montreal last fall and of Surratt 
in Toronto in February last. 

The above is certainly proof positive of Jesuit in- 
fluence. Continuing below record shows: 

''John Wilkes Booth having entered into this con- 
spiracy in Canada, as has been shown, as early as 
October, he is next found in the City of New York 
on the 11th day, as I claim of November, in disguise, 
in conversation with another, the conversation disclos- 
ing to the witness, Mrs. Hudspeth, that they had some 
matter of personal interest between them; that upon 
one of them the lot had fallen to go to Washington. . . 
upon the other to go to Newbern. This witness upon 
being shown the photograph of Booth swears that 
"the face is the same" that of one of the men, who, she 
says, was a young man of education and culture, as 
appeared by his conversation, and who had a scar like 
a bite near the jawbone. It is a fact proved here by 
the Surgeon General that Booth had such a scar on 
the side of his neck." 

It was this witness that found the letter on the 
floor of the car which Booth dropped and which was 
transmitted from her to the War Department on No- 
vember 17th, 1864. The letter was delivered to Presi- 
dent Lincoln, who after having read it wrote the word 
''Assassination" across it, and filed it in his office 
where it was found after his death and was placed in 
evidence as a court exhibit. The letter read as follows : 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 145 

"Dear Louis: 

The time has come at last that we have all 
so wished for, and upon you everything depends. 
As it was decided, before you left, we were to cast 
lots, we accordingly did so, and you are to be the 
Charlotte Corday of the Nineteenth Century. 
When you remember the fearful solemn vow that 
was taken by us, you will feel there is no draw- 
back. Abe must die, and now. You can choose 
your weapons, the cup, the knife, the bullet. The 
cup failed us once and might again. Johnson who 
will give this has been like an enraged demon 
since the meeting, because it has not fallen to him 
to rid the world of a monster ..... You know 
where to find your friends. Your disguises are so 
perfect and complete that without one knew your 
face no police telegraphic despatch would catch 
you. The English gentleman, Harcout, must not 
act hastily. Remember, he has ten days. Strike 
for your home; strike for your country; bide your 
time, but strike sure. Get introduced ; congratulate 
him; listen to his stories (not many more will 
the brute tell to earthly friends;) do anything but 
fail, and meet us at the appointed place within 
the fortnight. You will probably hear from me 
in Washington. Sanders is doing us no good in 

^^"^^-^- Chas. Selby.' 

And we quote again from Judge Bingham: 

"Although this letter would imply that the 
assassination spoken of was to take place speedily, 
yet the party was to bide his time. . . . The let- 
ter declares that Abraham Lincoln must die and 
now meaning as soon as the agents can be em- 
ployed and the work done. To that end you will 
bide your time." 

"Even Booth's co-conspirator, Payne, now on 
his trial says Booth had just been to Can- 



146 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ada, 'Was filled with a mighty scheme and was 
lying in wait for agents' Booth asked the co- 
operation of the prisoner and said/ I will give you 
as much money as you want; but you must swear 
to stick to me. It is in the oil business.' This 
you are told by the accused was early in March 

last In the latter part of November, 18!64, 

Booth visits Charles county, Maryland, and is in 
company with one of the prisoners, Dr. Samuel 
E. Mudd, with whom he lodged over night, and 
through whom he procures of Gardner one of the 
several horses which were at his disposal and used 
by him and his co-conspirator in Washington on 
the night of the assassination." 

"Some time during December last it is in the 
testimony that the prisoner Mudd introduced 
Booth to John H. Surratt and the witness Weich- 
mann; that Booth mvited them to the National 
Hotel ; that when there in the room to which Booth 
took them, Mudd went out into the passage, called 
Booth out and nad a private conversation with 
him, leaving the witness and Surratt in the room- 
Upon their return to the room, Booth went out 
with Surratt and upon their coming in all three — 
Booth, Surratt and Samuel A. Mudd went out to- 
gether and had a conversation in the passage, 
leaving Weichmann alone. Up to the time of this 
interview it seems that neither the witness or 
Surratt had any knowledge of Booth as they were 
then introduced to him by Dr. Mudd. Whether 
Surratt had previously known Booth it is not im- 
portant to inquire. Mudd deemed it necessary, 
perhaps a wise precaution, to introduce Surratt 
to Booth; he also deemed it necessary to have a 
private conversation with Booth shortly after- 
wards. Had this conversation, no part of which 
was heard by Weichmann been perfectly inno- 
cent, it is not to be presumed that Dr. Mudd, 
who was an entire stranger to the witness, would 
have deemed it necessary to hold the conversation 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 147 




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148 ASSASSIN^ OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

secretly, nor to have volunteered to tell the wit- 
ness, or rather pretend to tell him what the conver- 
sation was . . . And if it was necessary to with- 
draw and talk by themselves secretly, about the 
sale of a farm, why should they disclose the fact to 
the very man from whom they had concealed it?" 

As a matter of fact the above conversation about 
the purchase of Mudd's farm by Booth was merely a 
ruse to deceive Weichmann. The whole conversation 
was talking over the shortest and safest route for 
flight from the Capitol by which to reach their friends 
south of Washington. 

A number of Dr. Mudd's slaves testified that he 
was absent from his home at this time which corrob- 
orated Weichmann's testimony. 

We quote from the summing up of the evidence at 
the trials by Judge Advocate Bingham referring to 
O'Laughlin as follows: 

"Michael O'Laughlin had come to Washington on 
the 13th of April, 18*65, the day preceding the assas- 
sination, had sought out his victim, General Grant, at 
the house of the Secretary of War, that he might be 
able with certainty to identify him, and that at the 
very hour when these preparations were going on, was 
lying in wait at Rullman's on the Avenue, keeping 
watch, and declaring as he did, at about ten o'clock P. 
M. when told that that fatal blow had been struck by 
Booth, "I don't believe Booth did it." During the day 
and night before he had been visiting Booth, and doubt- 
less encouraging him, and at that very hour was in po- 
sition, at a convenient distance to aid and protect him 
in his flight, as well as to execute his own part of this 
conspiracy, by inflicting death on General Grant who 
happily, was not at the theatre, nor in the city, hav- 
ing left the city that day." 

"Who doubts that Booth ascertained in the course 
of the day that General Grant would not be present 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 149 

at the theatre. 0"Laughlin who was to murder Gen- 
eral Grant, instead of entering the box with Booth, was 
detailed to lie in wait, and watch and support him." 

"His declarations of his reasons for his changing 
his lodgings here and in Baltimore, so ably, and so in- 
geniously presented in the arguments of his learned 
counsel (Mr. Cox), avail nothing before the blasting 
fact, that he did change his lodgings and declared: 
*He knew nothing of the affair whatever.' " 

O^Laughlin who said he was in the "oil business" 
which Booth, Surratt, Payne and Arnold, have all de- 
clared meant this conspiracy, says he "knew nothing 
of the affair" O'Laughlin, to whom Booth sent the 
despatches of the 13th and 27th of March, — O'Laugh- 
lin who is named in Arnold"s letter as one of the con- 
spirators, and who searched for General Grant on 
Thursday night, laid in wait for him on Friday, was 
defeated by that Providence "which shapes our ends," 
and laid in wait to aid Booth and Payne, declares, he 
"knows nothing about the matter." Such a denial is 
as false and inexcusable as Peter's denial of our Lord." 

While these preparations were going on, Mudd was 
awaiting the execution of the plot, ready to faithfully 
perform his part in securing the safe escape of the 
murderers. Arnold was at his post at Fortress Monroe, 
awaiting the meeting referred to in his letter of March 
27th, wherein he says they were not to "Meet for a 
month or so,' which month had more than expired on 
the day of the murder, for his letter and testimony 
disclose that this month of suspensions began to run 
from about the first week in March. He stood ready 
with the arms with which Booth had furnished him, to 
aid the escape of the murderers by that route, and 
secure their communication with their employers. He 
had given the assurance in that letter to Booth that 
although the Government "suspicioned" them, and the 
undertaking was becoming "complicated" yet a time 
"more propitious would arrive," for the consummation 
of this conspiracy in which he "was one" with Booth. 



150 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

and when he "would be better prepared to again be with 
him". 

It was upon the above evidence for which O'Laugh- 
lin and Arnold were convicted and sentenced to the 
Dry Tortugas. 

And now I will quote from the same document 
the summing up of the evidence against Mary E- 
Surratt, for as a matter of facts tersely stated noth- 
ing could surpass that of the Judge Advocate, John A. 
Bingham. 

'That Mary E. Surratt is as guilty as her son, as 
having thus conspired and combined and confedera- 
ted, to do this murder, in aid of this rebellion, is clear. 
First, her house was the headquarters of Booth, 
John Surratt, Atzerodt, Payne and Herold; she is in- 
quired for by Payne, and she is visited by Booth, and 
holds private conversations with him. His picture, 
together with the chief conspirator, Jefferson Davis, 
is found in her house. She sends to Booth for a car- 
riage to take her on the 11th of April to Surrattville, 
for the purpose of perfecting the arrangement deem- 
ed necessary to the successful execution of the conspir- 
acy, and especially to facilitate and protect the con- 
spirators in their escape from justice. On that occas- 
ion. Booth, having disposed of his carraige, gives to 
the agent she employed (Weichmann) ten dollars with 
which to hire a conveyance for that purpose- And 
yet the pretense is made that Mrs. Surratt went on 
the 11th of April to Surrattville on exclusively her 
own private and lawful business. Can any one tell, if 
that be so, how it comes that she should apply to 
Booth for a conveyance? And how it comes that he, 
of his own accord, having no conveyance to furnish 
her, should send her ten dollars with which to procure 
it?" 

"There is not the slightest indication that Booth 
was under the slightest obligation to her, or that she 
had any claim upon him, either for a conveyance, or for 
the means with which to procure one except that he 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 151 

was bound to contribute, being the agent of the con- 
spirators in Canada and Richmond, whatever money 
might be necessary to the consummation of this in- 
fernal plot. On that day, the 11th of April, John H. 
Surratt had not returned from Canada with the tunas 
furnished him by Thompson." 

"Upon that journey of the 11th, the accused, Mary 
E. Surratt, met with the witness, John M. Lloyd at 
Uniontown (her tenant at Surrattville) . She called 
him; he got out of his carrigae and came to her; she 
whispered to him in so low a tone that her attendant 
could not hear her words, though Lloyd to whom they 
were spoken, did distinctly hear them, and testifies that 
she told him he should have those ''shooting irons" 
ready, meaning the carbines, which her son, and Her- 
old and Atzerodt had deposited with him, and added 
the reason, "for they would soon be called for." On 
the day of the assassination, she again sent for Booth, 
had an interview with him in her own house, and im- 
mediately again went to Surrattville, and then, about 
six o'clock in the afternoon, she delivered to Lloya a 
field glass and told him to "Have two bottles of whis- 
key and the carbines ready, as they would be called 
for that night." Having thus perfected the arrange- 
ment, she returned to Washington to her own house at 
about half past eight o'clock, to await the final result. 
How could this woman anticipate on Friday afternoon 
at six o'clock, that these arms would be called for, 
and would be needed that night, unless she was in the 
conspiracy and knew the blow was to be struck, and 
the flight of the assassins attempted and by that 
route. 

"'Was not the private conversation with Booth 
held with her in her parlor on the afternoon of the 
14th of April, just before she left on this business in 
relation to the orders she should give to have the 
shooting arms ready?" 

"An endeavor is made to impeach Lloyd. But the 
Court will observe that no witness has been called who 
contradicts Lloyd's statement in any material matter; 



152 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

neither has his general character for truth been as- 
sailed. How, then, is he impeached? Is it claimed 
that his testimony shows that he was a party to the 
conspiracy? Then, it is conceded by those who set up 
any such a pretense that there was a conspiracy. 
A conspiracy between whom? There can be no con- 
spiracy without the co-operation, or agreement, be- 
tween two or more persons. Who were the other par- 
ties to it? Was it Mary E. Surratt? Was it John H. 
Surratt? Was it George Atzerodt, David Herold? 
Those are the only persons so far as his own testimony, 
or the testimony of any other witness discloses, with 
whom he had any communication whatever on any 
subject immediately or remotely touching this con- 
spiracy before the assassination. His receipt and con- 
cealment of the arms, are unexplained evidence that 
he was in the conspiracy." 

'The explanation is, that he depended on Mary E. 
Surratt; was her tenant, and his declaration, given in 
evidence by the accused, himself, is that: "She had 
ruined him and brought this trouble upon him." But 
because he was weak enough, or wicked enough, to 
become the guilty depository of these arms, and to 
deliver them on the order of Mary E. Surratt, to the 
assassins, it does not follow, that he is not to be be- 
lieved on oath- It is said, that he concealed the fact 
that the arms had been left and called for. He so 
testifies himself, but he gives the reason, that he 
did it only from apprehension of danger to his life. 
If he were in the conspiracy, his general credit being 
unchallenged, his testimony being uncontradicted in 
any material matter, he is to be believed, and cannot 
be disbelieved if his testimony is substantially cor- 
roborated by other reliable witnesses." 

*'Is he not corroborated touching the deposit of 
arms by the fact that the arms are produced in 
court, one of which was found upon the person of 
Booth at the time he was overtaken and slain, and 
which is identified as the same which had been left 
with Lloyd, by Herold, Surratt and Atzerodt? Is he 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 153 




SURRATT TAVERN AT SURRATTVILLE, APRIL, 1922. 



Now the residence of Mrs. William Penn who has a linen 
handkerchief with "John H. Surratt" embroidered in corner, pre- 
sented to an aunt of Mrs Penn who attended school taught by 
him. 



154 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

not corroborated in the fact of the first interview with 
Mrs. Surratt by the joint testimony of Mrs. Offut 
(his sister-in-law), and Louis J. Weichmann, each of 
whom testified, (and they are contradicted by no one) 
that, on Tuesday, the 11th of April, at Union town, 
Mrs. Surratt called Mr. Lloyd to come to her, which 
he did, and she held a secret conversation with him? 
Is he not corroborated as to the last conversation 
on the 14th of April by the testimony of Mrs. Oifut, 
who swears that upon that evening, April 14, she 
saw the prisoner, Mary E. Surratt, at Lloyd's house, 
approach and hold conversation with him? Is he not 
corroborated in the fact, to which he swears that 
Mrs. Surratt delivered to him at that time, the field 
glass wrapped in paper, by the sworn statement of 
Weichmann, that Mrs. Surratt took with her on that 
occassion two packages, both of which were wrapped 
in paper, and one of which he describes as a small 
package, about six inches in diameter? The attempt 
was made, by calling Mrs. Offut, to prove that no 
such package was delivered, but it failed; she merely 
states, that Mrs. Surratt delivered a package wrapped 
in paper to her, after her arrival there, and before 
Lloyd came in, which was laid down in the room. But 
whether it is the package about which Lloyd testifies, 
or the other package, of the two about which Weich- 
mann testifies, as having been carried there that day by 
Mrs. Surratt, does not appear. Neither does this wit- 
ness pretend to say that Mrs. Surratt, after she had 
delivered it to her, and the witness had laid it down 
in the room, did not again take it up, if it were the 
same, and put it into the hands of Lloyd. She only knows 
that she did not see that done; but she did see Lloyd 
with a package like the one she received in the room 
before Mrs. Surratt left. How it came in his possession 
she is not able to state ; nor that the package was that 
Mrs. Surratt first handed her; nor which of the pack- 
ages she afterwards saw in the hands of Lloyd" 

"But there is one other fact in this case that 
puts forever at rest the question of the guilty partici- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 155 




ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 



The Surratt household were attendants of this church at 
10th and G. streets. 



156 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

pation of the prisoner, Mrs. Surratt, in this conspiracy 
and murder; and that is, that Payne who had lodged 
four days in her house — who, during ail of that time 
had sat at her table, and who had often conversed with 
her — when the guilt of his great crime was upon him, 
and he knew not where else he could go so safely, to 
tind a co-conspirator, and that he could trust none, 
that was not like himself, guilty, with even the knowl- 
edge of his presence, under the cover of darkness, after 
wandering for three days and nights, skulking be- 
fore the pursuing officers, at the hour of midnight 
found his way to the door of Mrs. Surratt, rang the 
bell, was admitted, and upon being asked, **Whom do 
you want to see?" Replied, *'Mrs. Surratt." He was 
then asked by the officer Morgan, what he came at that 
time of night for, to which he replied, "To dig a gut- 
ter in the morning." that Mrs. Surratt had sent for 
him. Afterwards he said that Mrs. Surratt knew he 
was a poor man and came to him." Being asked where 
he last worked, he replied: ''Sometimes on I street;"* 
and where he boarded, he replied, that he had no 
boarding house but was a poor man who got his liv- 
ing with the pick, which he bore upon his shoulder, 
having stolen it from the entrenchments of the Cap- 
ital. Upon being pressed why he came there at that 
time of night to go to work, he answered that he sim- 
ply called to see what time he should go to work in the 
morning. Upon being told by the officer who fortunate- 
ly had preceded him to this house, that he would 
have to go to the Provost-Marshal's office, he moved 
and did not answer, whereupon Mrs. Surratt was ask- 
ed to step into the hall and state whether she knew 
this man. Raising her right hand, she exclaimed : "Be- 
fore God, sir, I have not seen that man before; I have 
not hired him; I do not know anything about him," 
The hall was brilliantly lighted" 

"If not one word had been said, the mere act 
of Payne in flying to her house for shelter, would 
have borne witness against her, strong as proofs from 
Holy Writ. But, when she denies, after hearing his 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 157 

declarations that she had sent for him, or that she 
had never seen him, and knew nothing of him, when, in 
point of fact, she had seen him four consecutive days, 
m her own house (that same house) in the same cloth- 
ing which he wore, who can resist for a moment, the 
conclusion that these parties, were ahke, guilty?" 

And this is the woman whom the Roman hierarchy 
in this country is trying to make a martyr of! Con- 
template tills female Jesuit, this Leopoldine, without 
being asked to swear to her denial, volunteered to 
lift her hand and in the name of her God, perjure 
herself in the presence of those witnesses! Do you 
douDt that sne was a lay Jesuit? Listen. Let me 
quote the '^Doctrine of the Jesuits" upon this point: 

Under ''Of Lying and False Swearing'' in JUICIO 
TEOLOGICA, Basnedi, Jesuit authority, page 278, we 
find: 

"If you believe in an inconvertible manner, 
that you are commanded to lie, then lie.*' 

Again we quote from the Jesuit Father Stoz in 
"Of the Tribunal of the Penitent:" 

"When a crime is secret, the culpability of 
the crime may be denied; it being understood: 
publicly/* 

Mary E. Surratt knew the command of her church 
at that moment, and in order to save it from scandal 
and culpability in this great crime, as well as her own 
life and safety, she was dispensed to lie, and so with- 
out any hesitancy she raised her right hand and swore 
to this lie. 

Continuing, Judge Bingham said: 



158 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"Mrs. Surratt had arrived at home from the com- 
pletion of her part in the plot, about half past eight in 
the evening. A few minutes afterwards she was called 
to the parlor, and there had a private interview with 
someone unseen, but whose retreating footsteps were 
heard by the witness, Weichmann. This was doubt- 
less the secret, and last visit of John H. Surratt to 
his mother, who had instigated and encouraged him 
to strike this traitorous and murderous blow at his 
country. 

'*Booth proceeded to the theatre about nine o'clock 
in the evening, at the same time that Atzerodt and 
Payne and Herold were riding the streets, while Sur- 
ratt, having parted with his mother at the brief in- 
terview in her parlor, from which his retreating steps 
were heard, was walking the Avenue (Pennsylvania) 
booted and spurred, and doubtless consulting with 
O'Laughiin. When Booth reached the rear of the thea- 
tre, he called Spangler to him and received from Span- 
gler his pledge to help him all he could, when, with 
Booth, he entered the theatre by the stage door, 
doubtless to see that the v/ay was clear from the box 
to the rear door of the theatre, and to look upon their 
victim, whose erect position they could study from the 
stage. After this view Booth passes to the street in 
front of the theatre, where on the pavement, with 
other conspirators, yet unknown, among them one de- 
scribed as a low-browed villain, he awaits the ap- 
pointed moment. ... Presently, as the hour of ten 
o'clock approached, one of his guilty associates calls 
the time; they wait; again, as the appointed time 
draws nigh, he calls the time; and finally when the 
fatal moment arrives, he repeats in a louder tone *'Ten 
minutes past ten o'clock, ten minutes past ten o'clock." 
.... The hour has come when the red right hand of 
these murderous conspirators should strike, and the 
dreadful deed of assassination be done'' 

Booth at the appointed moment entered the theatre, 
ascended to the dress circle, passed to the right, paused 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 159 




INTERIOR OF FORD'S THEATRE ON NIGHT OF MURDER. 



JOHN WILKES BOOTH'S ESCAPE AFTER DEED. 



160 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

a moment looking down, doubtless to see if Spangler 
was at his post, and approached the outer door of the 
closed passage leading to the box, occupied by the 
President, pressed it open, passed in, and closed the 
passage door behind him. Spangler's bar was in its 
place and was readily adjusted by Booth in the mor- 
tise, and pressed against the inner side of the door, 
so that he was secure from interruption from without. 
He passed on to the next door, immediately behind the 
President, and stonpiner, looks through the aperture in 
the door into the President's box, and deliberately ob- 
serves tlip nrecise position of his victim seated in the 
chair, which had been prepared by the conspirators, 
as the altar for the sacrifice, looking calmly and quietly 
down upon the glad and grateful people, whom by his 
fidelity he had saved from the peril which had threat- 
ened the destruction of their government, and all they 
held dear, this side of the grave, and whom he had 
come, upon invitation, to greet with his presence, with 
the words still lingering upon his lips, which he had 
uttered with uncovered head and UT3lifted hand, be- 
fore God, and his country, when on the fourth of last 
March, he took asrain the oath to preserve, protect and 
defend the Constitution, declaring that he entered upon 
the duties of his great office **With malice toward 
none and charity for all" 

In a moment more, strengthened by the knowi- 
edjre that his conspirators were all at their posts, 
Fseven at least of them nresent in the citv, two of them, 
Mudd and Arnold, at their anpointed r)laces, watching 
for his coming, this hired assassin moves stealthily 
through the door, the fastening of which had been 
removed to facilitate his entrance, fires upon his vic- 
tim, and the martyred spirit of Abraham Lincoln as- 
cends to God. 

"Treason has done his worst ; nor steel nor poison 
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing 
Can touch him further." 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 161 

Now, I will let Judge Bingham pick up the thread 
of evidence by which Booth and Herold were left at the 
home of Mr. Mudd : 

". . . They arrived early in the morning before day, 
and no man knows at what hour they left. Herold rode 
towards Bryantown with Mudd, about three o'clock 
that afternoon, in the vicinity of which place he parted 
with him, remaining in the swamp, and was after- 
wards seen returning the same afternoon in the direc- 
tion of Mudd's house, a little before sundown, about 
which time Mudd returned from Brvantown towards 
his home. This village, at the time Mudd w-^s in it, 
was thronged with soldiers in pursuit of the murder- 
ers of the President, and although great care had been 
taken by the defense to deny that anyone said in the 
presence of Dr. Mudd. either there or elsewhere on that 
day, who had committed this crime, yet it is in evi- 
dence by two witnesses, whose truthfulness no man 
ouestions, that upon Mudd's return to his own house 
that afternoon, he stated that Booth was the murderer 
of the President, and Boyle, the murderer of Secre- 
tary Seward, but took care to make the further re- 
mark that Booth had brothers, and that he did not 
know which one of thpm had done the act" 

"When did I)r. Mudd learn that Booth had broth- 
ers? And what is still more pertinent to this inquiry, 
from whom did he learn that either, John Wilkes or 
any of his brothers, had murdered the President? 

"It is clear that Booth remained in his hous^ until 
some time in the afternoon of Saturday; that Herold 
left the house alone, as one of the witnesses states, 
being seen to pass the v/indow; that he alone of these 
two assassins was in the company of Dr. Mudd on his 
way to Brvantown. It does not appear that Herold re- 
turned to Mudd's house. It is a confession of Dr. Mudd 
himself, proven by one of the witnesses that Booth 
left his house on crutches and went in the direction of 
the swamn. How long did he remain there, and what 
became of the horses that Booth and Herold rode to 



162 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

his house and which were put in his stable, are facts 
nowhere disclosed by the evidence- The owners testify 
that they have never seen the horses since." 

As a matter of fact, it afterward developed, Herold, 
while he and Booth skulked in the timbers near the place 
of Thomas Jones, not a great way from the road on 
which they could see the soldiers and searchers riding 
up and down feared the horses might, by neighing, at- 
tract the attention of the riders and be betrayed, so 
he led the horses a safe distance away and shot them. 

The late Brig. General T. M. Harris, a member 
of the military commission v/hich convicted the con- 
spirators, in his great book on the Conspiracy Trials, 
page 80, describes Dr. Mudd as follows : 

"Mudd's expression of countenance was that of a 
hypocrite. He had the bump of secretiveness largely 
developed, and it would have taken months of favora- 
ble acquaintanceship to have removed the unfavorable 
impression made by the first scanning of the man. He 
had the appearance of a natural bom liar and deceiver. 
Mudd was a physician living on a farm. He had a con- 
siderable number of slaves at the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, most of whom had left him during the 
previous winter. His father, also living in the neisrh- 
borhood, was a large land and slave holder, and Mudd's 
disloyalty was, no doubt, of the rabid type. His home 
was a place for returned Rebel soldiers and recruiting 
parties, and he had a place of concealment in the pines 
near his house, where they were sheltered and cared 
for, the doctor sending their food to them by his 
slaves; and if at any time any of these parties ven- 
tured to his house to take their meals, a slave was al- 
ways placed on watch to give notice of the approach 
of anyone." 

Mudd not only entertained Booth a week-end in 
November, but he was known to have made several 
trips to Washington that winter, and each time was in 
conference with both Booth and Surratt. There is no 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 163 

doubt that Booth's Knight of the Golden Circle sig- 
nals and signs did not give him entree to the Roman- 
ists in the community south of Washington, in which 
St. Mary's Catholic Church was the center, and to 
which he and Herold fled after the deed committed in 
Ford's Theatre. 

The next damaging evidence against Dr. Mudd 
was, when the officers visited his house on the trail 




LOUIS J. WEICHMANN. 



Student for priesthood with John 
H. Surratt at Sulpician Monastery 
near Baltimore, Md. State's chief 
witness. 



of the two fugitives he emphatically denied that he 
had any strange visitors. It was not until the third 
visit, when the officers, fortified by definite facts in- 
formed him that they would have to search the house, 
that he admitted the presence of the two men, one 
wounded, who had been there the Saturday after the 
assassination. Mrs. Mudd disappeared and in a few 
minutes came in bringing the bootleg which Mudd had 



164 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

cut from Booth's boot when he bandaged his leg. On 
the bootleg were the initials "J. W. B." written in 
India ink inside. Even then neither Mudd nor his wife 
told an accurate story. Both denied that they had any 
idea it was Booth, notwithstanding the fact that tney 
were well acquainted with him, and notwithstanding 
that his was a personality with voice and manner that 
once known could never be forgotten- 

When Mudd was being taken to the Dry Tortugas 
after his conviction, he admitted to the officers who 
had him in charge, that he recognized Booth and 
Herold the morning after the murder when he came 
to have his leg dressed. 

Mudd only served three years' imprisonment and 
was liberated with Spangler, as was Arnold. O'Laugh- 
lin died of the Yellow Fever in an epidemic in the pris- 
on, and Dr. Mudd rendered his professional services 
so efficiently, that it was on this ground he received 
his discharge from President Johnson, who had prom- 
ised he would do so before retiring from office. The 
liberation of these assassins of President Lincoln by 
his successor, caused much sharp comment and criti- 
cism from Lincoln's friends. It seems almost unbe- 
lievable that any sort of leniency should have been 
shown to these criminals who were guilty not only 
of the murder of the most distinguished American, 
but of high treason to their government! 

It may be interesting to the reader to know that 
in the book written by Dr. Mudd's daughter, she 
proudly boasts of the fact that her mother is a grad- 
uate of the Visitation Convent at Georgetown and 
that on graduation her diploma was presented to her 
class by "Cardinal Bodini, who was the first papal Le- 
gate to the United States/' 

The lady does not state, perhaps she did not know, 
that Cardinal Bodini, prior to his elevating to the papal 
Lesrate was known all over Italy as the "BUTCHER of 
Bologna," because of the many Italian patriots he 
ordered put to death and that he gave the order that 
the Revolutionary priest, Ugo Bassi, who was the 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 165 

devoted follower of Garibaldi, should be tortured three 
hours before his execution; 

She neglects also to state that this was the same 
Cardinal Bodini, who was made to leave this country 
between suns by the "KNOW NOTHINGS'^— God bless 
them, and all their kind! 

Spangler, broken in health, returned with Dr. 
Mudd and made his home with him until his death in 
1875- He is buried in the cemetery, two miles from the 
Mudd residence, near St. Peter's church. Dr. Mudd lies 
buried in the little country graveyard connected with 
St. Mary's church where he first met Booth on that 
bright November morning in 1864. 

The body of John Wilkes Booth was given to his 
brother, Edwin, who had it removed from the old pen- 
itentiary in the Arsenal grounds, where it had been 
since the burial of the other four of his fellow con- 
spirators, by a Baltimore undertaker, assisted by a 
local Washington undertaking firm, Harvey & Marr, to 
Baltimore, and buried in the Booth family lot at beau- 
tiful Greenmount cemetery. 

The army box labeled with Booth's name at the 
time of the burial was somewhat decayed but the body 
was identified by the dentist who had filled several 
teeth, and who had no difficulty in identifying it as 
that of Booth. The skull had become detached but 
the jet black hair hung in long black ringlets. Edwin 
Booth did not view the body but remained close by un- 
til notified of the complete identification. He ordered 
the body placed in a casket which had been provided 
by him and shipped to Baltimore. 

The mother of Michael O'Laughlin was given the 
boy of her son, which was shipped from the prison 
burial ground and placed in the Catholic cemetery 
in Baltimore. 



166 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




GARRETT TOBACCO BARN, PORT ROYAL, VA. 



Booth being dragged out after he fell from bullet fired by 
Sergt. Boston Corbett April 26, 1865. 



Chapter X. 

The Trial Of The Arch Conspirator- 
John H. Surratt. 



Now, we will take up the trail of the arch-con- 
spirator and assassin, John Harrison Surratt, the man 
who called the time in front of Ford's Theatre the 
night of the murder of President Lincoln, and track 
him, step by step, to the very shadow of the Vatican, 
whose protection he sought and received, until a for- 
mal demand was made by the United States govern- 
ment for his return to this country for trial for the 
murder of Abraham Lincoln. 

In order to nail the Roman church to the cross 
in this great treason plot, the writer asks your patience 
and careful reading of this subject which has lain for 
over a half century buried in the oblivion where the Jes- 
uits placed it and from which we have resurrected it 
and pieced it together, in what we hope may prove a 
readable shape, to be understood and the information 
passed on. 

It is safe to say that the escape of this tool of 
the Roman priesthood was one of the most spectacular 
in all history. It began the very night after the tragic 
scene in Ford's Theatre. 

It will probably never be known positively by 
what means Surratt made good his escape from Wash- 
ington that night, or early the next morning, for he 
has passed to his eternal accounting and did so, so far 
as is known, without having revealed it. But this is 
certain; he succeeded in making* his escape safely to 
Montreal, Canada, and was lodged securely in the house 



168 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

of the parents of the Roman priest, La Pierre, who 
was waiting and ready to receive him, close by the 
papal **palace" of the Archbishop to whom he was 
secretary. 

Then began in the United States what was one of 
the most extraordinary man hunts for Surratt that 
ever occurred, before or since, in the history of this 
country. The rewards by the government amounted 
to twenty-five thousand dollars, and every detective 
in the government secret service, every detective of 
the private agencies, and every amateur sleuth en- 
gaged in this drive to recover this nineteen year old 
boy, leader of the gang of laymen who were instigated, 
aided, urged and abetted by the priests of the church 
of Rome, to complete the destruction of this Republic, 
which had recently been recovered from the awful 
cataclysm which our foreign enemies had precipitated 
four years previous. 

The government secret service, under the direc- 
tion of the War Department, sent out the following 
letter : 

"Headquarters Department of Washington, 

Washington, D. C, April 16th, 1865- 
Special Orders, No. 68, 

Special officers, James A. McDevitt, George 
Holohan, and Louis J. Weichmann, are hereby 
ordered to New York on important government 
business, and, after executing their private or- 
ders, to return to this city and report at these 
headquarters. The Quartermaster's Department 
will furnish the necessary transportation. 

By command of Major-General Augur, T- In- 
graham, Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General. 
Defenses North of Potomac." 

These officers after leaving Washington, arrived 
in Montreal on April 20th, and registered at the St. 
James Hotel. They searched the registers of the hotels 
in that city, and found that Surratt had arrived at 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 16^ 

the St. Lawrence Hall Hotel on April 6th, and checked 
out on the 12th of that month; that he had returnc^d 
on the 18th and left a few hours later. They learned 
on further investigation that he had stayed at the 
home of a man by the name of Porterfield, a Secession- 
ist from Tennessee, who was one of the agents for the 
Confederacy in that city, and that Surratt had left 
that house with another man dressed exactly like 
himself, each taking a carriage and being driven in 
different directions. At this point the trial ended un- 
til the government learned of his sailing on the Peruvi- 
an, an English steamer, plying between Quebec and 
Liverpool. 

The Secretary of State received the following 
code telegram from our Consul in Montreal, J. F Pot- 
ter: 

"No. 236. (Mr. Potter to Mr. Seward) 

U. S. Consul, B. N. A. F. 
Montreal, Oct. 27, 1865. 
Sir: Have just had a personal interview with 
Dr. L. J. McMillan. He informs me that just be- 
fore the Steamer Peruvian sailed, a person wiih 
whom he was acquainted, asked him if he was 
willing that a gentleman who had been somewhat 
compromised by the recent troubles in the United 
States, should pass as his friend on board on 
the passage out. The Doctor refused to acknowl- 
edge the person as his friend, until he should 
know who he was. Subsequently, the same oerson, 
accompanied by a party (Priest La Pierre — Ed.) 
came on board before the ship left port, whom 
he introduced to the surgeon as Mr. McCarthy. 
During the voyage McCarthy made himself known 
to the Doctor as John H. Surratt, and related to him 
many of the particulars of the conspiracy. He said 
he had been secreted in Montreal most of the time, 
with the exception of a few weeks, when he was 
with a Catholic priest down the river. He also stat- 
ed that Porterfield of this city, formerly of Tenn- 



170 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

essee, assisted in secreting him. The Doctor also 
informed same that Surratt had dyed his hair, 
eyebrows and mustache, blackstained his face, and 
wore glasses. He landed in Londonderry, Ireland, 
fearing he might be watched and detected in Liv- 
erpool. 

He told him he was obliged to remain until 
he could receive money from Montreal. He re- 
quested the Doctor to see his friend in this city, 
and bring him funds. After the return of the 
Peruvian, the Doctor was transferred to the No- 
va Scotian. When I saw him he had just had an 
interview with his friend who had introduced him 
to Surratt, as McCarthy, who told him he was 
expecting funds from Washington, D. C, but that 
they had not come yet. 

The Doctor says that Surratt manifests no 
signs of penitence, but justifies his action, and was 
bold and defiant, when he speaks of the assassi- 
nation of Abraham Lincoln. To illustrate this : He 
told me that Surratt remarked repeatedly, that he 
only desired to live two years longer, in which 
time he would serve President Johnson as Booth 
served Lincoln. The Doctor said he felt it his 
duty to give me this information for he regarded 
Surratt a desperate wretch, and an enemy to so- 
ciety, who should be apprehended and brought to 
justice." (Signed) John F. Potter." 

To this important information, our Consul re- 
ceived no reply from the War Department, as he had 
expected and the next day he followed it with a tele- 
gram, also in code, printed below : 

"No. 236. (Mr. Potter to Mr. Seward) 

U. S. Consul General, 
Montreal, Can-, Oct. 28th, 1865. 
Sir: — I sent you a telegram in cipher with 
information to the Department that' John H. Sur- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 171 

ratt left Three Rivers, in September, for Liverpool, 
where he now is, awaiting the arrival of the Nova 
Scotian, which sails on Saturday, next, by which 
he expects to receive money from parties in this 
city by hand of Ship Surgeon. . I have information 
from Dr. McMillan, Surratt intends to go to Rome. 
He was secreted at Three Rivers by a Catholic 
priest, with whom he lived, I have requested in- 
struction in my telegram, but hearing nothing yet, 
I scarcely know what course to take. 

If an officer could proceed to England on 
this ship, no doubt, Surratt's arrest might be ef- 
fected, and this, the last of the conspirators 
against the lives of the President and Secretary 
of State be brought to justice. If I hear nothing 
from Washington tomorrow, I shall go to Quebec 
to see further on the subject. 
Respectfully, etc. 

(Signed) Potter." 



And now a most peculiar phase of this remarka- 
ble case presents itself to us. The U. S War Depart- 
ment with the full knowledge of the exact whereabouts 
of that arch-criminal, who not only assisted, but led 
in, and actually directed the murder of the President 
of the United States and Secretary of State, William H. 
Seward, refused to make the least attempt to arrest 
the said John H. Surratt, which the following cable 
to our Consul in Liverpool shows: 



"(Mr. Hunter to Mr. Wilding) 

Dept. of State, Oct. 1st, 1865. 
Sir: Your dispatches 541-543 inclusive have 
been received. 

In reply to your No. 538, I have to inform 
you, that upon consultation with the Secretary 
of War and Judge Advocate General, it is thought 
advisable that no action be taken in regard to the 



172 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

arrest of the supposed John H Surratt, at pres- 
ent. 

W. H. Hunter, 

Acting Secretary" 

Then in less than three weeks from that date, 
the following order was sent to the War Department 
from Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, 
and successor to Abraham Lincoln: 

"(General Order No. 164) 

War Department 
Adj. General's OfRce, 
Washington, Nov. 24, 1865. 

All persons claiming: reward for the appre- 
hension of John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Payne, G. A. 
Atzerodt, David E. Herold, and Jefferson Davis, 
or either of them, are notified to file their claims 
and their proofs with the Adj. General for final 
adjudication by the special commission appointed, 
to award and determine upon the validity of such 
claims before the first day of January next, after 
which no claims will be received. 

The reward for the arrest of Jacob Thompson, 
Beverly Tucker, George W. Sander, Wm. G. Cleary, 
and John H. Surratt, are hereby revoked. 

By order of the President of the United 
States- 
E. D. Townsend, 

Ass't. Adj. General." 

Naturally, with the revoking of the reward for 
the arrest of Surratt, his chances for his safety from 
expiating his crime were multiplied many fold. 

On September 30th, 1865, our Consulate at Liver- 
pool, sent the following cable in Code to the Secretary 
of State at Washington: 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 173 

"(Mr. Wilding to Mr. Seward) 
No. 539. U. S. Consulate, Liverpool, 

Sept. 30, 1865. 
Sir: Since my dispatch No- 538, the supposed 
Surratt has arrived in Liverpool and is now stay- 
ing at the Oratory of the Roman Catholic Church 
of the Holy Cross. His appearance indicates him 
to be about 21 years of age, rather tall and toler- 
ably good looking. According to the reports Mrs. 
Surratt was a very devout Roman Catholic, and 
I know clergymen of that persuasion, on their 
way to and from America, have frequently lodgea, 
while in Liverpool, at that same Oratory, so that 
the fact of this young man going there, some- 
what favors the belief, that he is the real Sur- 
ratt. I cannot, of course, do anything further in 
the matter without Mr. Adams' instructions, and 
a warrant. If it be Surratt, such a wretch ought 
not to escape. 

Yours respectfully, Your obedient servant, 

H. Wilding." 

The Oratory of the Holy Cross was the Roman 
Catholic Clearing House through which the ecclesiasti- 
cal agents passed between this country and the Vati- 
can, during their activites through the Civil War. 

And now, with the official correspondence to show 
us Surratt's moves, let me chink up the open spaces. 

When Surratt left the home of Porterfield. he 
was taken under the wings of the French priests from 
under which he never departed until they had seen 
the ship surgeon on the Peruvian and arransred for 
his safe passage as we have seen. The facts broutrht 
out at the two trials of Surratt, after he had finally 
been returned to the United States, showed that the 
fucritive had c^one to the little villafre of St. Libo^re, 
some sixty miles out of Montreal, skirtincr the pine 
woods, and an ideal place for the purpose. The T>arish 
priest's name was Ls Pierre. Here he secreted Surratt 
for several weeks, when the hunt got too hot in Mon- 



174 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

treal which was being combed thoroughly for him. 
St. Liboire was out of the way of the general traffic, 
and the inhabitants, French Catholics, who worked 
for the most part in the lumber camps, and were by 
their location, as well as their lack of education, cut 
off from the rest of the world and its doings, as if 
they were people of another planet. They were siib- 
.survient to their priest, so much so, that they would no 
more have thought of criticising his acts, than they 
would of God Himself. Consequently, when a strange 
young man appeared at the parish house nothing was 
thought of it, or if, perchance, some one with just 
a drop of rebellious blood in him, might have asked 
himself, *'Is this another mouth to feed?" he would 
whisper it so softly that even his guardian angel could 
not hear it, and would quickly "bless" himself, for 
daring to criticise or find fault with what his '*Bon 
Pierre" should take it into his head to do. 

After several weeks of this life in the Canadian 
village, Surratt became restless, no doubt, and anxious 
to hear from the States, for we must remember that 
all his mail and the newspapers were censored by his 
priestly guardians, as he afterwards told in his Rock- 
ville lecture. Each time the "Holy Mother Church" 
would step in and allay his anxiety and he received al- 
most weekly visits from that other "Valued and trusted 
friend," Priest La Pierre of Montreal. Once when he in- 
sisted. Priest La Pierre took him back to Montreal, him- 
self, in citizen's clothes, and Surratt disguised as a 
hunter. 

You will note the solicitude of these French 
priests concerning this American youth who had a 
price of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars on his head, 
"dead or alive." Is it not an eloquent fact of, not only 
their personal guilt, but the guilt of their church, that 
they never thought of surrendering him and receiving 
the reward, notwithstanding the inordinate love of 
money which characterizes Rome's priests? 

Do you think for one moment that these priests 
in Canada, or the priests in Washington, would have 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 175 

dared to have become parties in this conspiracy, there- 
by involving their church, without the full knowledge 
of the Roman hierarchy? Priests receive all their or- 
ders from the Pope through their Bishops. 

Would this obscure, native born American boy 
have been so carefully protected and cared for as he 
was by these priests, without the command of the 
Vatican ? 

You must remember that this government had 
sent broadcast the warning that anyone who would be 
found ''aiding, abetting, protecting, comforting,'' or in 
any way assisting any of the conspirators, would be 
held as co-partners in the crime with them, and dealt 
with accordingly. 

There is not a record that I have been able to find, 
wherein there is one word of criticism, one word of 
disapproval, one word of regret officially, or otherwise, 
on the part of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy for the 
participation of the Romanists connected with this 
conspiracy, which consummated in the murder of 
Abraham Lincoln! 

THERE IS NOT IN THE LARGE COLLECTION 
OF OFFICIAL CONDOLENCES RECEIVED BY 
THIS GOVERNMENT UPON THE DEATH OF 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, COMING FROM EVERY 
CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, ONE WORD 
FROM THE POPE OF ROME. AND THIS IN VIEW, 
MARK YOU, OF THE FACT THAT THE POPE WAS 
KING OF THE PAPAL STATES AND HAD MORE 
SUBJECTS IN THIS COUNTRY THAN ANY OTHER 
RULER IN EUROPE! 

Pius IXth by his silence at this time, made a con- 
fession of his guilt written in letters of fire — un- 
quenchable fire — which brands him and his Jesuits 
with the brand of Cain in the hearts and minds of the 
AMERICAN PEOPLE, when they shall have been 
given a full knowledge of their (the Jesuits) responsi- 



176 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

bility in the CONSPIRACY OF DESTRUCTION OF 
THIS POPULAR GOVERNMENT ON THAT GOOD 
FRIDAY NIGHT IN FORD'S THEATRE, APRIL 14th, 
1865; 

Who, among the government detectives from this 
country, would have thought to search the houses of 
the priests for their fugitive? How much chance 
would they had to secure a search warrant for such 
search in French Canada if they had? The Roman 
Catholic SYSTEM operates in safety through its in- 
stitutions in this country and Canada. It is only in 
Catholic Mexico, where the people who have been 
burdened by the Papal yoke, have been progressive 
enough to make laws and operate them that a search 
warrant can be obtained with which these hell-holes 
of the Pope of Rome in their country can be reachea. 

Do you realize that in Mexico a Roman priest 
or nun has not the right of suffrage? That they cannot 
vote or enjoy any of the rights or privileges which 
accompanies the ballot box? And yet we supposedly 
intelligent Americans, not only permit them to vote, 
but they are today the dominating force in politics 
of every large city in the United States. THINK OF IT ! 

All the powerful machinery of the Hierarchy of 
the Roman Catholic Church was set in motion from 
the moment after the murder of Mr. Lincoln to shield 
Surratt and defeat justice for his awful crime, and 
we have public documents with which to brand these 
ecclesiastical plotters. Notwithstanding the fact that 
the U. S. War Department knew exactly every step 
taken by the young fugitive, from the day he sailed 
for Europe, no effort was made to airest him. The 
startling knowledge, however, came to the attention 
of certain members of Congress, and the matter was 
brought up in that body, and a committee appointea 
to investigate same. I herewith give the report of 
this committee in full: 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 177 

OFFICIAL REPORT ON JOHN H. SURRATT ISSUED 
BY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CONGRES- 
SIONAL RECORD. 

39th Congress House of Representatives Report 33 
2nd Session March 2, 1867 



REPORT OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. 

That John H. Surratt sailed from Canada about 
September fifteenth, 1865, for Liverpool; that infor- 
mation was received by Secretary of State, Wm. H. 
Seward, from Mr. Wilding, Vice-Consul at Liverpool, 
by communication, dated Sept. 27th, 1865; that Sur- 
ratt was at that time in Liverpool, or expected in a day 
or two. 

By dispatch, from Wilding Sept. 30th, 1865, the 
supposed Surratt had arrived and was staying at the 
Oratory of the Roman Catholic church of the Holy 
Cross, and that he. Wilding, could do nothing in tne 
matter without instructions from our Minister in Eng- 
land, Mr. Adams, and a warrant. 

The Secretary of State, received a dispatch from 
Mr. Potter, our Consul General at Montreal, Canada, 
October 25th, 1865, informing him that Surratt left 
Canada for Liverpool, the September previous, and 
was there waiting the arrival of a steamer by which 
he expected money, which steamer had not yet lett 
Canada, and that he was intending to go to Rome. 

Upon November 11th, 1865, Mr. Potter received 
a dispatch from the Department of State, that the 
information in his dispatch had been properly availed 
of, and that on the 13th day of November, the Secre- 
tary of State, requested the Attorney General of the 
United States, to procure indictment gainst Surratt, 
as soon as convenient, with a veiw to demand his 
surrender. 

Our Minister, Mr. Rufus King, at Rome, corn- 
menced as early as April 25th, 1865, stated in his 



178 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

dispatch, that information of Surratt, under the name 
of "Watson" had enhsted in the Papal Zouaves, then 
stationed at Sezzes. 

In a dispatch, August 8'th, 1865, said he repeated 
information communicated to him, to Cardinal An- 
tonelli, in regard to Surratt; that his Eminence, was 
greatly interested by it, and intimated that if the 
American government desired the surrender of the 
criminal, there would probably be no difficulty in the 
way. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 

"1st. That the Executive did not send any de- 
tective or agent to Liverpool to identify Surratt, or 
trace his movements, notwithstanding there was am- 
ple opportunity, for doing so, as appears in the com- 
munication from Potter. 

2nd- That the Executive did not cause notice to 
be given to our Minister at Rome; that Surratt in- 
tended going there, when the government had every 
reason to believe, such was his intention. 

3rd. That on November 4th, an order was is- 
sued from the War Department, revoking the reward 
offered for the arrest of John H. Surratt. 

4th. That from the reception of the communi- 
cations of Mr. King, Aug. 8th, 1866, to October 16th, 
1866, no steps were taken, either to indentify or pro- 
cure the arrest of Surratt, then known to be in the 
Military service of the Pope. 

The testimony of the Secretary of State, Secre- 
tary of War, and others which is herewith submitted, 
tending to justify acts of the government in the prem- 
ises, does not, in the opinion of your committee, excuse 
the great delay in arresting a person charged with 
complicity in the assassination of the late President 
Abraham Lincoln. 

They are constrained from testimony to report 
that, in their opinion, due diligence in the arrest of 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 179 

John H. Surratt, was not exercised by the Executive 
Department of the government. 

Respectfully submitted, 
(signed) F. E. Woodbridge, 
For Committee." 

So ends the report of that splendid, fearless group 
of men, chosen by the House of Representatives to 
look into the matter. 

It seems almost incredible that the memory of 
Abraham Lincoln, could have been so soon forgotten. 
That the virus of which he had such a clear knowledge 
should have been making its deadly inroads in the 
veins of his successor and the Secretary of State, 
William H. Seward, whose life hung in the balance for 
days, caused by the hand of one of the assassins under 
the personal direction of this same Surratt! 

I now call attention to the communication from 
our American Consul at Rome, at the time, General 
Rufus King: 

No. 33 Regarding Sainte-Marie 

Ames (Gen. Rufus King to Mr. Seward) 

2nd Session 

Legation IX. S.. Rome 

April 23rd, 1866- 
Sir: 

On Saturday last, the 21st. Henry de Saint-Marie, 
called upon me for the puri^ose. as he said, of com- 
municating the information that John H. Surratt, who 
is charged with complicity in the murder of President 
Lincoln, but made his escape at the time, from the 
United States, had recentlv enlisted in the PapM 
Zouaves, under the name of "John Watson," and is 
now stationed with his compa^iv at Sezze. 

My informant said that he had known Surratt 
in America; that he recoernized him as soon as he 
saw him at Se/.^es: that he called him by his proner 
name, and that Surratt acknowledged that he partici- 
pated in the plot against Lincoln's life. 



IgO ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

He further said that Surratt seemed to be well supplied 
with money, and appealed to him, Sainte Marie, not to 
reveal his secret. Sainte Marie, expressed an earnest 
desire, that if any steps were taken toward reclaiming 
Surratt as a criminal, that he (Sainte Marie) should 
not be known in the matter. 

He spoke positively, in answer to my questions 
as to his acquaintance with Surratt, and he certainly 
thinks this was the man, and there seemed such an 
entire absence of motive for any false statements on 
the subject, that I could not very well doubt the truth 
of what he said. 

I deemed it my duty, therefore, to present the 
circumstances to the Department, and ask instruc- 
tions. 

Respectfully, 
(signed) RUFUS KING" 

SURRATT ENTERED ENGLISH PAPAL COLLEGE 

AT ROME. 

An affidavit from an Irish Romaniv^t. Edward 
O'Conner. a book dealer there, gives this illumination 
upon that young criminal's movement: 

"About twelve months ago Mr. Surratt came to 
Rome under the name of "Watson*' In Canada he pro- 
cured letters from several priests to friends in Eng- 
land. Having left England for Rome, he got betters 
for some people here, among others for the reverend 
Dr. Neane, Rector of the English College. Being de- 
tained some days in Cevita Vecchia, and having no 
money to pay his expenses, he wrote the reverend Dr. 
Neane, from whom he received fifty francs. On his 
arrival here, he went to the English College, where 
he lived for some time; after that he entered the 
papal service. 

Rome, Nov. 25th, 1866." 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 181 

O'Connor also turned over to our Minister, whicn 
is included in the other official papers in the archives 
of this government, a 'etter received by him from 
Surratt as follows: 

"Edw. O'Connor, Esq., 

Rome, Italy. 
Dear Sir: 

Will you be so kind as to send me a French and 
English grammar, the best method you have. I think 
Ollendorf's is the most in use. When I come to Rome 
I will settle with you. Shall be in, in the course of 
two or three weeks. If you should have time to re- 
ply to me, please give me a^l the news you can. By 
so doing, you will greatly oblige, 

Your friend, 

John Wats(vn, Co. 3.'* 

Surratt's handwriting was identified in this letter. 
It is preceptible that O'Connor knew the nature of the 
"news" wanted by his friend Watson. The statement 
of O'Connor shows that Surratt had evidently related 
to him about his letters of reference, and his pecuniary 
embarrassment would indicate some confidence in that 
gentleman. 

I wonder if the non-Romanist reader prets the full 
import of a Roman T3riest in the City of Rome, at that, 
advancing" a sum of money to a foreign vouth, as the 
reverend Dr. Neane did? This, itself, without any of 
the other tremendous facts showincr the aid t>iat this 
young- traitor received from the priests in Washing- 
ton. Canada, England and Italv. was sufficient to have 
held them as the actual conspirators and to have 
brought them to justice by hanging them on 
the same scaffold with their dupes. Had this 
been done, it might have saved the assassina- 
tion of the other Presidents of this Republic, 
Garfield and McKinlev! 

To those of us who know the coldness of the char- 



182 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ity of the priests of Rome, the conduct of the reverend 
Dr. Neane speaks volumes. 

I now produce another communication in this gov- 
ernment correspondence, which speaks for itself: 

No. 43. Mr. Seward to Mr. King 

(Extracts — Confidential) 

Department of State 

Washington, Oct. 16, 1866 
Sir: ■"•'4W^, 

Mr. King's private letter written from Hamburg 
has just been received. It is accompanied by a letter 
from Sainte Marie of the 12th of September, to Mr. 
Hooker. I think it expedient that you do the follow- 
ing things: 

1st Employ a confidential person to visit Velle- 
tri, and ascertain by comparsion with the photo sent 
whether the person indicated by Sainte-Marie, is 
really John Surratt. 

2nd. Pay Sainte Marie to get his release in con- 
sideration of the information he has already communi- 
cated on the subject. 

3rd. Seek an interview with Cardinal Anton elli 
and referring to an intimation made by him to Mr. 
King's letter No. 62 Ask the Cardinal wheth- 
er his Holiness would now be willing in an ab- 
sence of extradition treaty, to deliver John H. Sur- 
ratt upon an authentic indictment, and at the request 
of the Department, for complicity in the assassination 
of the late President Lincoln, or whether, in the event 
of this request being declined, his Holiness would 
enter into an extradition treaty with us, which would 
enable us to reach the surrender of Surratt. 

4th. Ask as a favor of this government, that 
neither Sainte Marie nor Surratt be discharged from 
the papal army, until we have had time to communi- 
cate concerning them, after receiving a prompt reply 
from you to this communication. 

Sainte Marie should be told confidentially, that j 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 183 

the subject of his communication to Mr- Hooker is 
under consideration here. 

Yours respectfully, 

(signed) W. H. Seward" 

The fol' owing from General King gives further 
light: 

"No. 59. (Mr. King to Mr. Seward) 

Legation U. S- Rome, 

July 14, 1866. 
Dear Sir: 

Henri de Sainte Marie^s deposition. In compliance 
with instructions heretofore received, I have obtained 
and herewith transmit, an additional statement, 
sworn and subscribed to, by Sainte Marie, touching 
John H. Surratt's acknowledged complicity in the as- 
sassination of the late President Lincoln. 

Sainte Marie again expressed to me his great 
desire to return to America and give his evidence in 
person. He thinks his life would be in danger here, 
if it would be known. . . .that he betrayed Surratt's 
secret. 

I have the honor to be with great respect, 

Rufus King." 

Again we hear from General King after a visit 
to Cardinal Antonelli. That cunning old fox, who was 
the real pope, saw that to attempt to refuse to sur- 
render their protege would have been a dangerous 
move. There was, for instance, more than a billion 
dollars worth of church property in the United States, 
and the temper of the great masses of red-blooded 
American people was not to be trifled with. There 
were thousands of priests and nuns here, and a re- 
fusal, or further protection to this young monster 
might precipitate such a revulsion of feeling, if the 
inner facts were to become known, as^ to jeopardize 
not only the property, but start a religious war, to 
which there was no question as to the outcome. 



184 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

I deem this a proper place to quote again from 
that valuable little book, "The Roman Question," the 
description of Antonelli's personal appearance: 

'In this year of grace, 1859, he is fifty-three 
years of age. He presents the appearance of a 
well preserved man; his frame is sUght but 
robust; his consti1:ution that of a moun- 
taineer. The breadth of his forehead, the 
brilliancy of his eyes, his beak-like nose, and all 
the upper part of his face, inspire a certain awe. 
His countenance, of almost Moorish hue, is at 
times lit up by flashes of intellect. But his heavy 
jaw, his long fang-like teeth, and his thick lips 
express the grossest appetites. He gives you the 
idea of a minister grafted on a savage. When he 
assists the Pope in the ceremonies of Holy Week, 
he is magnificently disdainful and impertinent. He 
turns from time to time in the direction of the 
diplomatic tribune, and looks without a smile at 
the poor ambassadors, whom he cajoles from 
morning to night. You admire the actor who 
bullies his public. But when at an evening party he 
engages in close conversation with a handsome 
woman, the play of his countenance shows the 
direction of his thoughts, and those of the imagin- 
ative observer are imperceptibly carried to a 
roadside in a lonely forest, in which the principal 
objects are prostrate postilions, an overturned 
carriage, trembling females, and a select party 
of the inhabitants of Sonnino! 

He lives in the Vatican, immediately over 
the Pope. The Romans ask punningly, which is the 
uppermost, the Pope or Antonelli? All clashes of 
Society hate him equally He is the only living 
man concerning whom an entire people is agreed. 
....... He wishes to restore the absolute 

power of the pope, in order that he may dispose 
of it at his ease He returns to Rome and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 185 




GIACOMO ANTONELLI 

CARDINAL AND SECR^ETARY OF PAPAL STATES, 

PIUS IX. 



Mouthpiece of the "Black Pope"— the General of the "So- 
ciety of Jesus". On death of Cardinal Antonelli his two at- 
tractive daughters by a court decision were awarded his vast 
fortune to the amazement and scandal of Europe. 



186 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

for ten years continues to reign over a timid old 
man and an enslaved people, opposing a passive 
resistance to all the counsels of diplomacy, and 
all the demands of Europe. 

"No. 62. Mr. King to Mr. Seward 

Legation U. S., Rome 

Aug. 8th, 1866. 
Sir: 

I availed myself of the opportunity to repeat to 
the Cardinal the information communicated by Henri 
Sainte Marie in regard to Surratt. His Eminence was 
greatly interested and intimated that if the American 
government desired the surrender of the criminal, 
there would probably be no difficulty in the way. 

Rufus King." 
(Mr. King to Mr. Seward) 

(Extracts) 
Sir: ""^ 
He added, that there was indeed no extra- 
dition treaty between the two countries, and that to 
surrender a criminal, where caoital punishment was 
likelv to ensue, was not exactly in accordance with the 
spirit of the paiyal government, but. that in so grave 
and so exceptional a case, and with the understandincr 
that the United States under parallel conditions wouM 
do as they desired to be don^ by. and that he thouc^ht 
that the renuest of the United States department for 
Surratt*s surrender would be granted." 

Do you get the entering wedge there to make 
Surratt*s surrender on condition that would save his 
neck? Since when did the "spirit" of the papal gov- 
ernment become so compassionate? The massacre of 
St. Bartholemew, the burning at the stake of Bruno, 
Savanarola, John Huss, Joan D*Arc, and thousands 
of others who dared to oppose the papacy, still cries 
to Heaven for vengeance, but with this young criminal 
who was perinde ac cadaver in the hands of Pius IXth 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 187 

and his Jesuits, how very solicitious they are, going 
just as far as they dare, to save him ! 

What cowardly and reprehensible conduct the 
men at the head of the United States government 
were guilty of in the case of Henri de Sainte Marie, 
who took his life in his hands when he informed Gen- 
eral King of John Surratt's identity. They dilly dallied 
along for months and kept him sweating while he 
awaited some action, and then it took a Congressional 
investigation and a stinging rebuke and order from 
Congress before the proper steps were taken to bring 
this young scoundrel, Surratt, to time. 

We have here the sequel of the communication 
from Mr. King from Hamburg, which the Secretary 
of War, Seward, referred to in the letter above: 

''(Private) 

Hamburg, Sept. 23rd, 1866. 
My dear Governor: 

I enclose a letter forwarded from Rome a few 
days since, in which Sainte Marie related his griefs 
to Mr. Hooker. He thinks, of course, that too little 
notice has been taken to his statements about Sur- 
ratt; but would be satisfied, I have no doubt, if his 
discharge from the Pontificial Zouaves were procured, 
and the means furnished him to pay his passage home 
to Canada, where his old mother is still living. His 
discharge, I could obtain without difficulty, if desir- 
able. 

Faithfully yours, 

(signed) Rufus King." 

The telegraph lines and mail service in the pontifi- 
cal states, were of course, entirely in the hands of the 
prelates of the Pope, and under the strictest censor- 
ship. 

It goes without saying that no state papers passed 
through the mails in the pontifical states from our 
consuls to their government, that were not read by the 
priestly spies and reported to "His Eminence," copied 



188 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

and filed away for future reference, if they so desired. 
The following letter gives us an interesting high light 
on the Jesuit system, and the credulity of a Protestant 
American's psychology. 

"Legation U. S., Rome, 

July 14, 1866. 
My dear Governor: 

As you will learn from the accompanying dis- 
patch, the missmg documents from the State Depart- 
ment arrived all right today. I cannot imagine how, 
or where they have been delayed. 

I will act forthwith upon the instructions in re- 
gard to Sainte Marie. He is willing and anxious to 
return to the United States, and can get his release 
from the Pope's army, by paying fifty dollars, or so. 
I should judge his parole evidence would be much more 
desirable than any certified statement. He would ex- 
pect to have his expenses paid and some compensation 
for his time. 

Faithfully yours, 

Rufus King." 

The reader will recall that Sainte Marie was cut 
off from any reward which the government had offer- 
ed by a revocation which President Johnson ordered. 
President Johnson was a drunkard. He came from a 
disloyal State. His revocation of a reward for the ar- 
rest of John H. Surratt is conclusive proof to the 
mind of the writer, to say the least he was playing 
politics, which under the gravity of the circumstances 
wo^^uld make his conduct criminal. Andrew Johnson, 
the drunkard, had nothing in common with Abraham 
Lincoln. Lincoln's pure, sober, honorable life was a 
rebuke to such a man as Johnson. At the first op- 
portunity, the latter dared to take advantage of, to 
show his dishke, which amounted to downright dis- 
respect to the memory of Lincoln. It was President 
Johnson that paralyzed the arm of the Department of 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 189 

State in regard to Surratt's arrest. The whole official 
inertness amounting to treason it would seem, should 
be laid at Johnson's door. 

That the Roman Catholic spirit may be truly 
demonstrated in the pontifical army, a perusal of the 
following document will be enlightening: 

*'No. 72. Mr. King to Mr. Seward 

Legation U. S., Rome, 

Dec. 17, 1866. 
Sir: 

I hasten to acknowledge receipt of the dispatches 
Nos. 44-45-46-47,of the State Department .... rela- 
tive to the affair of John H. Surratt. .... It will 
give me pleasure to convey to Cardinal Antonelli, the 
assurance of the President's sincere satisfaction with 
the prompt and friendly actions of the papal court. . . 
Sainte Marie, who first informed me of Surratt being 
in the corps of Zouaves, has been discharged from the 
papal service, at my request. 

Threats had been made against him by some of 
his comrades, and thinking that his life might not 
be altogether safe, and that he might be wanted at 
Alexandria as a witness to identify Surratt, I put him 
in charge of Captain Jeffers, and he sailed on the 
Swatara on Friday last. His great desire seems to be 
to return to America, and aid in bringing Surratt to 
justice, I have seen, as yet, no reason to doubt his 
good faith, or question the truth of his statements. 

Rufus King." 

Surratt, one of the murderers of our great Lincoln, 
was the hero and Sainte Marie, the traitor! The dif- 
ference in sentiment of the papal troops and the 
PEOPLE of Italy, the Revolutionists, who were 
struggUng for a free and united Italy, under Gari- 
baldi, and Victor Emmanuel, can be appreciated if 
the reader will peruse the letters of condolence which 
were received by the government after they learnea 



190 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln. Every working- 
men's organization of Italy sent the most beautiful 
messages, and their intimate knowledge of the life 
of Lincoln astonished the writer. The bold frankness 
in many of them in placing the blame on the Jesuits 
was most edifying. I know of nothing that will give 
the reader the mental attitude of the difference of 
sentiment, and show up the venom of the Pope's si- 
lence on President Lincoln's murder, than a perusal of 
these messages. 

After an extended diplomatic dickering which 
covered several months after its initiation, the order 
for Surratt's arrest was given by the Secretary of 
State, Cardinal Antonelli. The official papers are ex- 
ceedingly interesting and educational. We give them 
in full. They are all official translations of the orig- 
inals, in Italian. The Lieutenant Colonel in charge at 
the time was an Austrian, whom the patriotic Ital- 
ians greatly hated. 

''Enclosure "C" (Translation) Kausler to Lieut. 
Col. AUet. 

November 6, 1866- 

Col: — Cause the Zouave Watson to be arrested 
and to be conveyed under safe military escort to 
the military prison at Rome. It is of much importance 
that this order be scrupulously fulfilled. 

The Gen. Pro-Minister, Kausler. 
To Lieut. Col. Allet, Com. Battalion of Zouaves, Vel- 
letri.'^ 

The French Lieut. Allet acknowledges the order 
as follows: 

''Allet to Kausler (Enclosure "D" Translation) 

Velletri, Nov. 7, 1866. 
No. 463 

General: — I have the honor to inform you that 
the Zouave Watson (John) has been arrested at Ve- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 191 

roll, and will be conducted tomorrow morning under 
a good escort to Rome. 

I have the honor to be General, your most humble 
subordinate, 

Lieut. Col. Allet. 

Pontifical Zouave Commander of Battahon." 

And now comes the surprise, by the way of : 

"(Enclosure "E'' Translation) 

Presented at Velletri, Nov. 8, 1866, 8:35 A. M. 
Arrived at Rome, Nov. 8, 1866, 8:50 A. M. 

His Excellency, Minister of Arma, Rome. 

I received the following telegram, dated 4:30 A. 
M. from Zambilly: 

At the moment he left the prison and while sur- 
rounded by six men as a guard, Watson threw himself 
into a ravine, about a hundred feet, perpendicular in 
depth, which defends the prison. Fifty Zouaves in 
pursuit of him. 

Zambilly. 

I will transmit your Excellency the intelligence 
I may receive by telegram. 

Allet, Lieut. Col." 

It was now up to the Austrian commander to 
flimflam the American Consuls and State Department 
by giving this opera buffet the semblance of genuine- 
ness to cover the investigation which they knew was 
sure to follow. 

"Kausler to Cardinal Antonelli. 

Ministry of Arms, Cabinet of the Pro-Minister, 
Nov. 8, 1866. 

Most Reverend Eminence: 

I have the honor to transmit to your most rev- 
erend Eminence, the accompanying documents on the 
arrest and escape of the Zouave Watson, of the 3rd 
Co., and I shall not fail to communicate such further 



192 ASSASSINS OF ABRSHAM LINCOLN 

information as I may receive, as the result of the pur- 
suit of this individual. 

Bowing to kiss the sacred purple, I am proud to 
subscribe myself with profound devotion, your most 
Reverend Eminence's most humble and obedient ser- 
vant 

His most Reverend Eminence Kausler 

The Cardinal Antonelli, Secretary of State/* 

There you are, my dear reader, how do 3/ou like 
the picture? That is a glimpse of what will happen in 
this country if we allow the Jesuits to "Make Ameri- 
ca Cathohc!" 

Surratt Given Warning By His Ecclesiastical 
Protectors. 

"Lieut. Col. Allet to Kausler. 

My General: — Following out your Excellency's 
orders, I sent this morning to Veroli, Lieut. De Famel, 
to make an examination of the escape of Zouave Wat- 
son. I have learned some other details of this unfor- 
tunate business. Watson, at the moment he was ar- 
rested, must have been on his guard, having obtained 
knowledge of a letter addressed which con- 
cerned him probably. This letter was sent by mistake 
to a trumpeter named .... was opened by him and 
shown to Watson, because it was written in English 
I have sent it to your Eminence, with a report from 
Captain Zambilly. 

I am assured that the escape of Watson savors 
of a prodigy. He leapt from a height of 23 feet on a 
narrow rock, beyond which is a precipice. The filth 
from the barracks accumulated on the rocks, and in 
this manner the fall of Watson was broken. Had he 
leaped a little further he would have fallen in an 
abyss. 

I am, etc, etc.*' 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 193 

We have below a description of the arrest of 
Surratt given in the report from Lieut. Col Allet. 

". . . . Then, the prisoner was awakened, who 
arose and put on his gaiters and took his coffee with 
the calmness and phlegm quite English. The gate of 
the prison opens on a platform which overlooks the 
country, situated at least thirty feet below the win- 
dows of the prison. 

Beside the gate of the prison are the privies of the 
barracks. Watson asked permission to halt there. 
Corp. Warrin who had six men with him as guards, 
allowed him to stop, very naturally, not doubting, 
neither he, nor the Zouaves, present, that the prison- 
er was going to try to escape at a place which seemed 
quite impossible to us, is quite clear. In fact, Watson 
who seemed quiet, seized the ballustrade, made a leap, 
and cast himself into the void, falling on the uneven 
rocks where he might have broken his bones a thous- 
and times, and gained the depth of the valley below. 

Patrols were immediately organized, but in vain! 
We saw a peasant who told us he had seen an un- 
armed Zouave going towards Commari which is the 
way to Piedmont. . Lieut. Mosley and I have been 
to examine the localities, and we asked ourselves how 
one could make such a leap without breaking arms 
and legs? 

DeZambilly, Com. of Detachment." 

That Surratt was given his warning by some em- 
issary of the Pone's government is beyond a doubt. 
Do you think for one moment if Surratt*s crime, for 
instance, had been the murder of a priest, he would 
have escaped? 

This government, through General King, demand- 
ed a report of the affair, and his request was com- 
plied with by Cardinal Anton elli and thp above trans- 
lations were made and sent to Washington where 
thev are now with the data pertaininer to the affairs 
of Surratt. Mr. King sent the following letter to Mr. 
Marsh, our Consul at Florence, Italy, by courier: 



194 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"Mr. King to Mr. Marsh. 
(Enclosure "A" Confidential) 
Dear Sir: — I send to you under very peculiar cir- 
cumstances and as bearer of these dispatches, my 
friend, Mr. Robert McPherson. He will tell you the 
story which the accompanying dispatches will help to 
illustrate. 

Rufus King 
On November 13th.'' 

The dispatches referred to above are the ones 
given here, pertaining to the arrest and "escape" of 
Surratt. We see now the pontifical governm.ent ma- 
neuvered to permit Surratt to be taken on condition 
that he be not condemned to death; we see by some 
friendly advance information he was prepared for his 
arrest and took it with perfect calmness and noncha- 
lance, notwithstanding the fact he was aroused from 
his sleep and that "he put on his gaiters and took his 
coffee, with a calmness that was quite English." We 
see that his arrest was a farce and that he was per- 
mitted to escape." We see Antonelli assuring our Con- 
sul that he had undoubtedly "made good his escape" 
and was in Italian territory." 

After the order of Cardinal Antonelli for the ar- 
rest of Surratt from the Papal Guard had been given 
the official wires of this country were busy. The fol- 
lowing orders were telegraphed to the officers of 
our Fleet in the Mediterranean : 

"Rome, Nov. 16, 1866, 11:50 A. M. 
His Excellency, Mr. Harvey, American Minister, Lis- 
bon- 
Inform Adm. Goldsborough that very important 
matters renders the immediate presence of one of our 
ships-of-war necessary at Vecchia. 

Rufus King." 

Mr. Harvey's reply was: ^ 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 195 

"As Rear Adm. Goldsborough is not now in port, I 
sent immediately for Commodore Steedman, who ar- 
rived here some days ago, and who is now the superior 
officer present, in order to consult as to the proper 
measures to be adopted. 

The U. S. Steamer Swatara, left here yesterday 
for Tangier, Gibraltar, and other ports in the Mediter- 
ranean, and if the Rear Admiral who is believed to 
have left Cherbourg for Lisbon, within the last few 
days, does not appear as soon as expected. Commodore 
Steedman will intercept and order the Swatara by tel- 
egram to proceed to Civiti Vecchia. 

Harvey" 

On November 17, 1866, a telegram from Minister 
Harvey announced that the Swatara had been ordered 
to Civiti Vecchia, which arrived in due time, but Sur- 
ratt had made his escape on a steamer which left Na- 
ples for Egypt and Henri de Sainte Marie was placed 
on board the Swatara, and held awaiting word from our 
Consul at Alexandria. The vessel upon which Surratt 
sailed put in at Malta. Our American Minister there 
who had been notified to be on the alert for that 
young fugitive, found that he was on board and 
cabled our Consul at Rome. This message was sent on 
to our Minister at Alexandria, Egypt, so that when 
the ship arrived at that port, it found Mr. Hale, the 
U. S. Consul General, Vv^aiting for him. I will let the 
official wire to the United States War Department 
describe his arrival. 

''(Extract) 

It was easy to distinguish him, (Surratt) from 
among the seventy-eight third-class passengers by 
his Zouave uniform and scarcely less easy, by his 
almost unmistakable American type of countenance. I 
said at once to him: "You are the man I want; you 
are an American?" He said "Yes sir." I said, "You 
doubtless know why I want you ? What is your name ?" 
He said, promptly, "Walters" I said, "I believe your 



196 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

name is Surratt," and in arresting him I mentioned 
my official position as United States Consul-General. 

The Director of Quarantine speedily arranged 
sufficent escort of soldiers, by whom the prisoner 
was conducted to a safe place within the Quarantine 
walls. Although the walk occupied several minutes, 
the prisoner close at my side, made no remark what- 
ever, displaying neither surprise nor irritation. 

Arrived at the place prepared, I gave him the 
usual magisterial caution, that he was not obliged to 
say anything, and that anything he did say would be 
taken down in writing. He said "I have nothing to 
say. I want nothing but what is right" He declared 
he had neither transportation nor luggage, nor money, 
except six francs. His companions confirmed his state- 
ment. They said he came to Naples, a deserter from 
the Papal army at Rome. I find he has no papers, no 
clothes but those he is wearing. The appearance of 
the prisoner answers very well the description given 
by witness Weichmann on page 116 of Pittman's Re- 
port, sent me by the government. 

Hale." 

Here, again, we see Surratt, under the most try- 
ing circumstances under which an innocent man would 
have broken, taking his arrest with amazing coolness, 
the same, in fact, which he displayed previously, when 
he was taken at Velletri, although, so far as is 
known, that was the first time that he had ever been 
arrested. He was beyond doubt, fortified by the as- 
surance that under the protection of the Vatican, 
and he had, like all Jesuits, a clear understanding of 
all that fact guaranteed. He was clever enough to re- 
alize that with his inner knowledge of this whole sor- 
did, treasonable transaction, his *'holy church" would 
be compelled to continue its protection as their inter- 
ests were inseparable. His confidence must have been 
further intensified by the fact that he would not have 
to face a military tribunal, as had his mother, and the 
rest of his co-conspirators, who were executed, and 




JOHN HARRISON SURRATT, IN PAPAL UNIFORM AT TIME OF 
HIS ARREST AND RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES. 

The above is reproduced from the only photo taken at the timje, 
which is the property of Col. O. H. Oldroyd of Washington, D. C, who 
kindly gave permission to reprint it here. It is taken from Oldroyd's 
Lincoln Memorial Collection. (Col. Oldroyd is himself author of an in- 
teresting book on Lincoln's Assassination.) 



198 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

that the political influence of the Jesuit machine al- 
ready had reached the presidential chair, so recently 
occupied by his victim, Abraham Lincoln. 

Taking stock of the above facts, the young mon- 
ster had good and sufficient reason to be philosophical 
about his present condition. He was probably rather 
relieved when he found himself a manacled prisoner, 
with his face turned homeward to the country of his 
nativity, to the country he had so miserably and wick- 
edly betrayed. He knew many staunch friends await- 
ed him, — friends, who, like himself, hated the gov- 
ernment. 

Before going* further we present another offi- 
cial communication of this matter which throws added 
light upon the situation in Italy when the POPE WAS 
KING. 

*'Mr. Marsh to Mr. Seward. 

Legation of U. S. Florence, Italy, Nov. 18, 1866. 

Sir: — On my arrival from Venice on Tuesday 
morning, I found the papers, copies and translations, 
of which marked respectively, A B C D and E, are 
hereto annexed- Mr. McPherson introduced by a letter, 
marked A, had gone to Leghorn, and I had no other 
information on the subject of his mission, than such 
as the papers referred to above have furnished. 

I lost no time in seeing the Secretary of the Min- 
ister of Foreign Affairs. I stated to him such facts as 
I was possessed of, and enquired whether he thonght 
his government would surrender Surratt to the United 
States for trial, if he should be found in Italian ter- 
ritory. He replied, he thought the accused man would 
be surrendered on proper demand and proof, but prob- 
ably, only on stipulation on our part, that the punish- 
ment of death, should not be inflicted on him. 

Having no instruction on the subject, and knowing 
nothing of those Mr. King might have received, and at 
that time having no reason to suppose that Surratt 
had escaped into the territory of the King, I did not 
pursue the discussion farther. .. . I doubt whether in 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 199 

case of surrender of Surratt, a formal stipulation to 
exempt him from punishment by death, will be in- 
sisted upon. 

In the famous LaGala escape, Mr. Viscount Venos- 
to, then, as now, Minister of Foreign Affairs, refused 
to enter into such a stipulation, on the extradition of 
the offenders, but nevertheless, the government 
yielded to the intercession of the Emperor of France, 
and the sentences of those atrocious criminals, though 
convicted of numerous murders, robberies and even 
cannibalism, were commuted, and I suppose the gov- 
ernment of Italy, would strongly oppose capital pun- 
ishment and recommend Surratt to mercy, if he sur- 
rendered to us. 

The public sentiment of all classes in Italy, is de- 
cidedly averse to the infliction of capital punishment, 
and I shall not go too far, if I add, to any severe or 
adequate punishment for grave offenses. 

Marsh." 

There is a psychological reason for the innate en- 
mity in the hearts of Romanists for severe punish- 
ment. It is traceable to the long dark centuries of un- 
just, atrocious cruelties of the misrule which the Ital- 
ians endured, under the reigns of the popes of Rome. 
Suppression of any peoples continued for ages, will 
react and have a strong tendency to make government 
of any sort resented and distasteful to them. 

Surratt did not overestimate the nrotection of his 
church, for from the moment he landed in this coun- 
try, he was greeted and sustained by the priests of 
that church. When his trial began in Washington on 
June 10th, 1^67, the presence of Roman nriests and 
the students from the Jesuit University at Georgetown 
and the Sulnician Monastery where he had studied 
three years for the priesthood, were the most notice- 
able features of the sessions. Although he declared 
himself a bankrupt, he was furnished the services of 
the best lawyers. When it became necessary to furnish 
bail for his final release, it was immediately presented 



200 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

by an Irish woman he did not even know, to the amount 
of thirty thousand dollars. According to press reports 
this stood there until his death in 1916. That is some 
friendship, is it not? 

AFFIDAVIT OF HENRI de Sainte Marie. 

Aims report, House of Representatives, 39th session 
Congress, Page 15, Ex. Document No. 9. 
Rome, July 10, 1866. 

'% Henri de Ste Marie, a native of Canada, Brit- 
ish America, age 33, do swear and declare under oath, 
that about six months previous to the assassination 
of Abraham Lincoln, I was living in Maryland, at a 
small village called Ellangowan, or Little Texas, about 
25 or 30 miles from Baltimore, where I was engaged 
as a teacher for a period of about 5 months. I there 
and then got acquainted with Louis J. Weichmann and 
John H Surratt, who came to that locality to pay a 
visit to the parish priest. At that first interview a 
great deal was said about the war and slavery, the 
sentiment expressed by the two individuals being more 
than strongly secessionist. In the course of the conver- 
sation I remember Surratt to have said that Presi- 
dent Lincoln would certainly pay for the men that 
were slain during the war. About a month afterward I 
removed to Washington at the instigation of Weich- 
mann and got a situation as tutor at Gonzaga Col- 
lege where he was himself engaged. Surratt visited us 
weekly, and once he offered to send me South, but 
I declined. 

I did not remain more than a month at Washing- 
ton, not being able to agree with Weichmann and en- 
listed in the army of the North as stated in my first 
statement in writing to General King. 

I have met Surratt here in Italy at a small town 
called Velletri. He is now known under the name of 
"John Watson." I reco^rnized him before he made him- 
self known to me and told him privately, "You are 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 201 

John Surratt, the person I have known in Maryland. 
He acknowledged he was and begged me to keep the 
thing secret. After some conversation we spoke of 
the unfortunate affair, of the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, and these were his words: 'Damn tne 
Yankees, they have killed my mother; but I have 
done them as much harm as I could. We have killed 
Lincoln the nigger's friend.' He then said, speaking of 
his mother, 'Had it not been for me and that coward 
Weichmann, my mother would be living yet. It was 
fear made him speak. Had he kept his tongue, there 
was no danger for him ; but if I ever return to Amer- 
ica or meet him elsewhere I shall kill him." 

He then said he was in the secret service of the 
South. And Weichmann, who was in some department 
there, used to steal copies of the dispatches and for- 
ward them to him and thence to Richmond. Speaking 
of the murder he said, they had acted under the or- 
ders of men who were not yet known, some of whom 
are still in New York and others in London. 

I am aware that money is sent to him yet — from 
London . 

'When I left Canada,' he said, 'I had but little 
money, but I had a letter from a party in London. I 
was in disguise, with dyed hair and false beard; that 
party sent me to a hotel, where he told me to remain 
until I heard from him. After a few weeks he came to 
me and proposed to me to go to Spain, but I declined, 
and he asked me to go to Paris. He gave me seventy 
pounds with a letter of introduction to a party there 
who sent me here to Rome where I joined the Zouaves.* 
He says he can get money in Rome any time. I be- 
lieve he is protected by the clergy and that the murder 
is the result of a deep! laid plot, not only against the 
life of President Lincoln but against the existence of 
the republic, as we are aware that priesthood and roy- 
alty are and always have been opposed to liberty/* 

"That such men as Surratt, Booth, Weichmann 
and others^ of their own accord planned and executed 
the infei;na'l plot which resulted in the death of Presi- 



202 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

dent Lincoln is impossible. There are others behind 
the curtain who have pulled the strings to make these 
scoundrels act 

"He says he does not regret what has taken place 
and he will visit New York in a year or two, as there 
is a heavy shipping firm there that had much to do 
with the South, and he is surprised that they have not 
been suspected. 

This is the exact truth of what I know about Sur- 
ratt. More I could not learn, being afraid to awaken 
his suspicion and further I do not say." 

Sworn and subscribed before me at the American 
Legation in Rome, this tenth day of July, 1866, as 
witness my hand and seal. 

Signed: Henri de Ste Marie 
Rufus King, Minister Resident." 



Chapter XI. 

The Trial Of John H. Surratt. 



From the very moment the Swatara, the espec- 
ially chartered warship, reached this country with 
John H. Surratt, bound hand and foot on board, all 
the wheels of the Roman Catholic political machine 
were set in motion for his certain release. The intense 
excitement which had enveloped the trials of the con- 
spirators two years previous had naturally subsided 
perceptibly, this, of course, being an advantage to 
the prisoner, and the smallest details were looked af- 
ter by the array of high-priced lawyers who fought 
the two legal battles for this penniless young traitor 
and assassin. 

His attorneys, Messrs. Merrick, Bradley and 
Bradley were Romanized, the former professed a Cath- 
olic, and the other two, by strong sympathy, left no 
stone unturned in the building of his defense, although 
his alibi, so carefully planned and presented, was soon 
shattered by a number of reputable witnesses who 
could not be shaken by the unprofessional tactics 
which these lawyers resorted to. 

The first step in the proceedings was a motion 
filed by the State's lawyers from which we quote in 
part: 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES AGAINST JOHN 
H. SURRATT, INDICMENT: MURDER. 

"And now, as this day, to-wit, on the 10th day of 
June, A D., 1867, come the United States and the said 
John H. Surratt, by their respective attorneys and 



204 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

the jurors of the jury, impanelled and summoned also 
come; and hereupon the said United States by their 
attorney challenge the array of the said panel, because 
he saith, that the said jurors comprising the said panel, 
were not drawn according to the law, and that the 
names from which said jurors were drawn, were not 
selected according to law, wherefor, he prays judg- 
ment, and that the said panel may be quashed. 

This motion, if your Honor please, is sustained 
by an affidavit which I hold in my hand, and which, 
with the permission of your Honor I will now proceed 
to read. We think after this affidavit shall have been 
read it will not be found necessary to introduce any 
oral testimony." 

The reader will note that the two charges made 
were that the names were not drawn according to law ; 
and that they were not selected according to law. 

The law required that the registrar of the City 
of Washington should make out a list of four hundred 
names on or before the first day of February; the 
City Clerk of Georgetown was to make out a list of 
eighty names to be selected: and the Clerk of the Levy 
Court of the County of Washington was to make out 
a list of forty names to me selected ; and that such lists 
should be preserved, and any names that had not been 
drawn for service during the year, might be trans- 
ferred to the lists made up for the subsequent year. 
After this had been done the officers should meet 
and jointly select their respective lists of the number 
specified; the names being written by each officer on 
a separate paper, folded or rolled up, so that no one 
could see the name, and then deposited in a box pro- 
vided for that purpose. The box was then to be thor- 
oughly shaken and officially sealed, and then by these 
three officers, given into the custody of the clerk of 
the County Court of Washington City for safe keep- 
ing. 

These same officers were to meet in the City 
Hall. Washington City at least ten days before the 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 205 

commencement of each term of the Circuit Court, or 
Criminal Court, and there the Clerk of the Circuit 
Court was to publicly, and in their presence, break the 
seal of the box and proceed to draw out the number of 
names required. If it were a Grand Jury Court, the 
next twenty-six names drawn, were to constitute the 
petit jury, for that term. This having been done, the 
box was to be sealed and returned to the clerk for 
safe keeping. 

The clerk of the circuit court at that time was a 
Samuel E. Douglas, registrar of the City of Washing- 
ton. His examination showed that no such lists had 
been made out as required; that no joint action had 
been had by these three officials, but that each one 
had written his own required list, and deposited it in 
the box independently of the others. 

It was also brought to the attention of the court 
that these officers had not sealed the box as requir- 
ed, but had delivered it to the clerk to be sealed by 
him. It was also shown that the names had been 
drawn, not by the clerk of the circuit court, but by the 
clerk of the City of Georgetown. 

There was nothing to prevent the Georgetown 
clerk from carrying any of the names of the jurors 
whom he might have seen fit, and who might have 
been "fixed,' in his hand, and when he put his hand 
into the box, which was a perfectly illegal act, to have 
withdrawn the very names he held in his hand. 

The whole procedure was so infamously bold and 
irregular that the Court said : "My order is that the 
marshal summon twenty-six talesmen. This occupied 
several days. After the jury had been selected. Sur- 
ratt's attorneys filed the following to be made the 
basis of carrying the case up on a writ of error : 



206 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBL\, THE UNITED STATES VS. JOHN 
H. SURRATT, IN THE CRIMINAL COURT MARCH 
TERM 101, 1867. 

And the said Marshal of the District of Colum- 
bia, in obedience to the order of the Court, made in 
this case on the 12th of June, this day makes return 
that he hath summoned, and now hath in court here, 
twenty-^six jurors, talesmen, as a panel, from which to 
form a jury to try the said case, and the names of 
the twenty-six jurors, so retained being called by the 
clerk of said court, and they having answered to their 
names as they were called, the said John H. Surratt, 
by his attorneys, doth challenge the array of the said 
panel, because, he saith, it doth plainly appear by the 
records and the proceedings of the court in this case, 
that no jurors have ever been summoned according to 
law, to serve during the present term of this court, 
and no names of jurors, duly and lawfully summoned, 
have been placed in the box, provided for in the fourth 
section of the Act of Congress, entitled : "An act pro- 
viding for the selection of jurors to serve in the sev- 
eral courts of the District'' approved, sixteenth day of 
June, 1862, on or before the first day of February, 
1867, to serve for the ensuing year; wherefore, he 
prays judgment, that the panel now returned by the 
said Marshal, and now in the court here, be quashed, 

Merrick, Bradley & Bradley, 
Attorneys for Surratt" 

It is a notable fact that there were sixteen Ro- 
manists out of the twenty-six in the first panel drawn 
in that irregular manner. 

The answer filed in the motion of Surratt's at- 
torneys was the first step in this bitterly contested 
case and while the prisoner was, according to his own 
statement, absolutely penniless, he was representea 
by an expensive array of legal talent and where the 
money came from reimbursing them remains a mys- 
tery today. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 207 

Georgetown — Jesuitized Georgetown — was con- 
stantly in evidence at the trial. The priests from the 
Jesuit college were there, and the students who were 
just dismissed for their vacations, were on hand and 
would always make it a particular point to greet Sur- 
ratt who had been a student of that institution for 
two years, most cordially, and he was scarcely ever 
without a priest at his side. It is small wonder that 
the priests of Rome gave every assistance to the pris- 
oner at the bar. Their interests were inseparable. The 
interest of the Roman church in this country was 
deeply involved and no one appreciated this more than 
Surratt. He was confident and defiant all through the 
weeks, of what would have been to most young men 
an unendurable ordeal, stimulated by the knowledge 
that all of the powerful machinery of his church was 
being used in his defense and that his liberty was 
guaranteed. 

John Surratt was a bold, cold-blooded, unscrupu- 
lous, unrepentant criminal, who had been steeped in the 
immoral teachings of the Doctrines of the Jesuits 
from his earliest childhood when his misguided mother 
had placed him under the guidance of priest Wiget 
at the Boys' Preparatory school at Gonzaga College, 
a fact which was testified to by that gentleman at Sur- 
ratt's trial. 

Surratt's lawyers presented the following peti- 
tion at the beginning of the trial: 

'To the Honorable, the Justice of the Supreme 
Court of the District of Columbia, holding the Crim- 
inal Court in March Term, 1867. 

The petition of John H. Surratt shows that he has 
been put upon his trial in a capital case in this court; 
that he has exhausted all his means, and such further 
means as have been furnished him by the liberality of 
his friends, in preparing for his defense, and he is 
now unable to procure the attendance of his witnesses. 
He therefore prays your Honor for an order that 
process may issue to summon his witnesses, and to 



208 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

compel their attendance at the cost of the government 
of the United States, according to the statute in such 
cases made and provided." 

This petition was granted by the court. 

From the very beginning, duplicity and innuendo 
were used, and unprofessional conduct of the most fla- 
grant character was resorted to. The States' witnesses 
were baagered, abused and bulldozed, so much so mat 
the Judge had to interfere more than once. Especially 
was this the tact in the case of Dr. McMihen, the ship 
surgeon of the Peruvian, to whom priest La Pierre 
mtroduced Surratt under the name of ''McCarthy." 
i'he physician made a splendid witness and refused to 
be confused, but the attorney for the defendant was so 
abusive that the witness gave an angry response in 
pure self-defense. 

The papal venom showed itself all through the 
trials of Surratt in the never-ceasing effort of his at- 
torneys to stab the memory of Lincoln and througn 
their contention that the Military Court which had 
convicted Surratt's mother, had been an usurpation 
of power by President Johnson, and the act of a ty- 
rant. When one reads the records of those trials, one 
marvels that in so short a time after the passing out 
of that great man, these tools of the ecclesiastical mur- 
derers would dare to venture so far out in the open, 
with their treasonable utterances. 

When court was called to order in the John H. 
Surratt trial. Judge Fisher, presiding, said: "Gentle- 
men, this is the day assigned for the trial of John H. 
Surratt, indicted for the murder of Abraham Lincoln, 
late president of the United States. Are you ready to 

proceed? Surratt's lawyer, Bradley, answered: 

*The prisoner is ready, sir, and has been from the 
first." This unnecessary falsehood was a beginning 
quite in keeping with the life and action of the prison- 
er, and his Jesuit attorney brazenly tried to implant 
in the minds of the jury the innocence of his client 
who had fled to Canada, then put the Atlantic ocean 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 209 

between him and his pursuers and when arrested at 
Velletri, Italy, dashed himself down an unscalable 
precipice to evade being returned to his native land! 
Nothing less than Roman effrontery could have prof- 
fered such an answer to that question, "Are you 
ready?" DESPERATE FLIGHT HAS NEVER BEEN 
USED AS AN ARGUMENT FOR READINESS BE- 
FORE, I will wager, and it gives the keynote of the 
conduct of the defense. This is just a sample of one of 
those little Jesuit jokes. No doubt his attorney had a 
mental reservation when he assured the court that 
his client had "been ready from the first," — to skip 
again, if the slightest opportunity offered itself. Men- 
tal reservation is one of the ethics of the Jesuit theol- 
ogy. 

The Roman Catholic religion was first dragged 
in by Surratt's own lawyer, R. T. Merrick, when they 
called attention to a telegraph dispatch to the New 
York Herald, in which the fact that the State had de- 
manded a new jury impanelled because there were six- 
teen Romanists out of the twenty-six jurors called in 
the first panel. 

The district attorney interrupted by showing that 
the news came from Washington and as afterwards 
proved that it was but one of many press dispatches, 
which were instigated by the defense to prejudice the 
public in Surratt's favor. If there were no other signs 
to indicate that the hand of Rome was the guiding one 
in the trials of Surratt, this alone would be sufficient 
to the esoteric. 

A most convincing presentation of the charges 
against the prisoner was made by assistant district 
attorney Nathaniel Nelson who made the opening ad- 
dress. It ran in part as follows: 

"May it please your Honor, and gentlemen of the 
jury, you are doubtless aware that it is customary in 
criminal cases, for the prosecution at the beginning 
of the trial, to inform the jury of the nature of the 
offense to be inquired into, and of the proof that will 



210 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

be offered in support of the charges of the indict- 
ment. 

The Grand Jury of the District of Columbia has 
indicted the prisoner at the bar, John H. Surratt, as 
one of the murderers of Abraham Lincoln. It has be- 
come your duty to judge whether he is guilty or in- 
nocent of that charge, — a duty, than which more sol- 
emn or momentous, was never committed to human in- 
telligence. You are to turn back the leaves of history, 
to that red page, on which is recorded in letters of 
blood the awful incidents of that April night on which 
the assassins' work was done on the body of the chief 
Magistrate of the American Republic, — a night, on 
which for the first time in our existence as a nation, 
a blow was struck with the fell purpose, not only to 
destroy a human life, but the life of the nation, the 
life of LIBERTY itself. 

"Though more than two years have passed by 
since then, you scarcely need witnesses to describe to 
you the scene at Ford's Theatre, as it was visible in 
the last hour of the President's life. . . .Persons who 
were present will tell you that about twenty minutes 
past ten o'clock, the 14th of April, 1865, on that night, 
John Wilkes Booth, armed with pistol and knife, pass- 
ed rapidly from the front door of the theatre, ascend- 
ed to the dress circle, and entered the President's box. 
By the discharge of a pistol he inflicted a death wound, 
then leaped upon the stage, and passing rapidly across 
it, disappeared into the darkness of the night. 

"We shall prove to your entire satisfaction, by 
competent and credible witnesses, that at that time, 
the prisoner at the bar was then present, aiding and 
abetting that murder; and that at ten minutes past 
ten o'clock that night, he was in front of the theatre in 
the company of Booth. You shall hear what he then 
said and did. You shall know that his cool and calcu- 
lating malice was the director of the bullet that 
pierced the brain of the President, and the knife that 
fell upon the venerable Secretary of State. You shall 
know that the prisoner at the bar was the contriver 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 211 

of that villainy, and that from the presence of the 
prisoner, Booth, drunk with theatric passion and 
traitorous hate, rushed directly to the execution of 
their mutual will. We shall further prove to you, that 
their companionship upon that occasion was not an 
accidental or unexpected one, but that the butchery 
that ensued was the ripe result of a long premeditated 
plot, in which the prisoner was the chief conspirator. 

It will be proved to you that he is a traitor to 
the government that protected him: a spy in the em- 
ploy of the enemies of his country in the years 1864- 
65; he passed repeatedly from Richmond to Washing- 
ton, from Washington to Canada, weaving the web 
of his nefarious scheme, plotting the overthrow of 
this government, the defeat of its armies, and the 
slaughter of his countrymen ; and as showing the ven- 
om of his intent, as showing a mind insensible to ev- 
ery moral obligation and fatally bent on mischief — we 
shall prove his gleeful boasts, that during these jour- 
neys he had shot down in cold blood, weak, unarmed 
soldiers, fleeing from rebel prisons. 

It will be proved to you that he made his home in 
this city, the rendezvous for the tools and agents in 
what he called his "bloody work" and that his hand 
deposited at Surra ttville, in a convenient place, the 
very weapons obtained by Booth while escaping, one 
of which fell, or was wrenched from Booth's death 
grip, at the moment of his capture. 

While in Montreal. Canada, where he had o^one 
from Richmond on the 10th d^^v of April, on the Mon- 
day before the assassination, Surratt received a sum- 
mons from his co-con snira tor, Booth, reauiring his 
immediate presence in this city. In obedience to that 
pre-concerted signal, hp at once left Canada and ar- 
rived here on the 14th. By numerous. I had almost said 
a multitude of witnesses, we shall make the proof to be 
clear as the noonday sun. . . . that he was here during 
the day of that fatal Friday, as well as present at the 
theatre that night. ... We shall show him to you on 



212 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Pennsylvania Avenue, booted and spurred, awaiting 
the arrival of the fatal moment. 

"We shall show him in confenerce with Herold in 
the evening; we shall show him purchasing a contriv- 
ance for disguise an hour or two before the murder. 
When the last blow had been struck, when he had done 
his utmost to bring anarchy and desolation upon his 
native land, he turned his back upon the abomina- 
tion he had wrought, he turned his back upon his 
home and kindred and commenced a shuddering flight. 
We shall trace that flight, because in law, flight is 
the criminal's inarticulate confession, and because it 
happened in this case, as it always happens. . . . that 
in some moment of fear or elation, or of fancied se- 
curity, he too, to others, confessed his guilty deeds. 
He fled to Canada. We will prove to you the hour of 
his arrival there and the route he took. . . He found 
there safe concealment and remained there several 
months. . . In the following September, he took his 
flight. . . . Still in the disguise and with painted face, 
painted hair, painted hand, he took ship to cross the 
Atlantic. In mid-ocean he revealed himself and related 
his exploits, and spoke freely of his connection with 
Booth in the conspiracy relating to the President. He 
rejoiced in the death of the President, he lifted his im- 
pious hands to heaven, and expressed a wish that the 
might live to return to America and serve Andrew John- 
son as Abraham Lincoln had been served. He was hid- 
den for a time in England, and received there sympa- 
thy and hospitality. . . . From England he went to 
Rome and hid himself in the ranks of the papal army 
in the guise of a private soldier. Having placed almost 
the diameter of the globe between himself and the 
dead body of his victim, he might well fancy that pur- 
suit was baffled. . . but he was discovered by an ac- 
quaintance of his boyhood. When denial would not 
avail, he admitted his identity and avowed his guilt 
in these words: "I have done the Yankees as much 
harm as I coyld. We have killed Lincoln, the niggers' 
friend!" 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 213 

The man to whom Surratt made this statement 
did as was his high duty to do — he made known hii 
discovery to the American Minister. . .Having him ar- 
rested, he escaped from his guards by a leap down a 
precipice. . . He made his way to Naples and then took 
passage on a steamer that carried him across the Med- 
iterranean Sea to Alexandria, Egypt. . . . The inexora- 
ble lightning thrilled along the wires that stretch 
through the wasted waters which roll between the 
shores of Italy and Egypt and spake in his ear its word 
of terrible command; from Alexandria. . . manacled, 
he was made to turn his face towards the land he had 
polluted by the curse of murder. He is here at last to 
be tried for his crime." 

In his closing argument attorney Carrington 
for the Prosecution referring to Surratt's mother in 
connection with him said: 

"Now, gentlemen of the jury, let us view the con- 
nection of Mrs. Surratt with this assassination. I feel 
the delicacy of the ground upon which I stand. I know 
the situation. I know that you dislike to consider this 
question which has been forced upon you. I do not 
want to do it. My duty is to prosecute the prisoner, 
but one of the counsel has said she was murdered, and 
another that she was butchered, and it becomes my 
duty to trace her connection with this crime, and then 
leave it to you, to say whether she was guilty. ... of the 
crime for which she suffered. 

"First, I call your attention to the fact to which we 
have already adverted; that her house, 541 H Street, 
was the rendezvous for these conspirators. Now, gen- 
tlemen, will you pause for a moment and reconcile that 
with innocence? You remember the law, that it is not 
how much a party did, but whether she had anything 
to do with it. Can you, T say, reconcile it with inno- 
cence that this woman's house should have been the 
rendezvous of Booth. Lewis Payne, Atzerodt, Herold 
and John Surratt? Would you not know by intuition? 



214 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Would you not know by their conversation? Would not 
your judgment and your hearts tell you who they 
were and what they contemplated ? 

Secondly, who furnished the arms with which this 
bloody deed was done ? . . . According to the testimony 
of John M. Lloyd, this is shown. Do you believe him, 
or disbelieve him? My friend, Mr. Bradley, said he 
was a common drunkard; but, mark you, he was an 
attendant and friend of Mrs. Surratt." 

(Mr. Bradley) "Who says so?" 

(District Attorney) "I will prove it. When I was 
examining that witness and proposed to ask him cer- 
tain questions in reference to Mrs. Mary E. Surratt, 
he said, *Mr. Carrington,* for he knew me personally, 
*I do not wish to talk aljout Mrs. Surratt, for she is 
not on trial.' I said 'Go on, Mr. Lloyd.' I applied to 
the court and he said it was his duty to answer. He 
saw her continually. He lived in her house ; he drank 
her liquor. Why, this evidence shows that John H. 
Surratt, Herold and John M. Lloyd played cards and 
drank together. But, says the friend and companion 
(Lloyd) of the prisoner at the bar, (Surratt) unwill- 
ing to testify against her, when put on solemn oath. . . 
he says certain arms were furnished him by the pris- 
oner at the bar who showed him where they could be 
safely concealed. ... he (Lloyd) protesting that it 
might get him into personal difficulty. The mother 
knew about the transaction, for on the 11th of April 
we have Lloyd's ow?i testimony that she asked him 
where those shooting arms were, and said that they 
might be needed soon. I say, first her house is the 
rendezvous: secondly, she furnished arms or knows 
of their being furnished. 

On the night of the 14th of Anril, Booth and Her- 
old are leaving Washington in flight for their lives. 
At Surrattville they call for whiskey from the agent 
(Lloyd) and friend of the prisoner and his mother. 
She gives them a home, gives them arms, gives them 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 215 

whiskey, not to nerve them, but to refresh them after 
the commission ot the horrid crime. 

But Booth, in making nis escape, needs something 
more tnan whiskey and arms. . . He needs a field glass, 
and has it delivered for him by his friend, Mrs. Sur- 
ratt. With the defense, no witness told the truth whose 
testimony went to convict their client, whilst the 
stories ot the most infamous men, self-confessed 
scoundrels and accomplices, after the fact, if not be- 
fore the fact, such as Fathers Boucher and Cameron, 
must be taken as g:ospel truth! (See testimony of 
Father Boucher, trial of Surratt, page 859. Also Kev. 
Stephen Cameron, page 793.) " 

There were some eight or nine reputable witness- 
es who testified to having seen John Surratt in Wash- 
ington on the day of the murder. Sergt. Dye positively 
identified him as the young man who called the time 
before Ford's Theatre on the evening of the murder. 
A colored cook who had been engaged by Mrs. Surratt 
during John's absence testified that Mrs. Surratt had 
ordered her on the day of the assassination to bring 
a pot of tea and some toast into the dining room for 
John. While serving it to him, Mrs. Surratt said, 
"This is my son John ; don't you think he looks like his 
sister Anna?" 

I am herewith giving the testimony of David C. 
Reed, a tailor, who had known John Surratt since he 
was fourteen years old, whose evidence could not be 
questioned. His professional critical eye was naturally 
more attracted to the up-to-date cut of Surratt's cloth- 
ing. 

Testimony of David C. Reed, June 3rd, 1867. 

"The last time I saw John H. Surratt was about 
half past two o'clock on the day of the assassination, 
April 14th last I was standing on the stoop of Hunt 
and Goodwin's military store. Mr. Surratt was going 



216 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

past the National Hotel. I noticed his hair was cut very 
singularly, rounding away down on his coat collar. I 
did not notice whether he had whiskers or a mustache 
as I was more attracted by the clothing he had on. His 
appearance was very genteel, remarkably so. He did 
not look like a person from a long journey. I cannot 
say I ever had any connection with Mr. Surratt since 
he was quite a child ; I knew him by sight and we had 
just bowing acquaintance. (Surratt Trial) 

TESTIMONY OF SHIP SURGEON DR. L. J. McMIL- 
LEN, THE PERUVIAN. 

Washington D. C. Tuesday, June, 1867 

Question. Did you know John H. Surratt? 

If so state where and under what circumstances. 

Ans. I became acquainted with John H. Surratt in 
the month of September, 1865. I did not know him 
under the name of Surratt. He was introduced to 
me under the name of "McCarthy" by a gentle- 
man in Montreal who kept him in secrecy after the 
assassinatiion of Mr. Lincoln. I was then ship 
surgeon of the Steamship Peruvian plying be- 
tween Quebec and Liverpool. He came on board 
on September 11, 1865. I never suspected who he 
was until after we left. One day he inquired of 
me, "Who is that gentleman?" pointing to a pas- 
senger. He said he believed he was an American 
detective and that he was after himself. "But," 
said he, "if he is (he put his hand in his pocket 
and drew out a revolver) that will settle him." 
Then I began to suspect — not that he was Surratt 
but that he had been connected with the Rebel- 
lion here in some way. After that he would be con- 
tinually with me every day, because I was the 
only person on board he knew, having been in- 
troduced to him by my friend, and he seemed 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 217 

not to care for being in the company of any one 
else. He used to come to me when I was alone and 
ask me to walk with him on deck ; and he would 
always talk about what happened here during the 
war. He told me that he had been from the begin- 
ning in the Confederate State's service, carrying 
dispatches between here and Richmond, and also as 
far as Montreal; that he and Booth had planned 
at first the abduction of President Lincoln; that, 
however, they could not succeed in that way and 
they thought it necessary to change their plan. 
After this, before the assassination, Surratt was 
in Montreal when he received a letter from Booth 
ordering him immediately to Washington; that 
it was necessary to act and act promptly and he 
was to leave Montreal immediately for Washington. 
He did not tell me he came here, but he told me he 
came as far as Elmira, N. Y. and from that place 
telegraphed to New York to find out whether 
Booth had already left for Washington and was 
answered that he had. He did not tell me that he 
had gone any fai'ther than Elmira. The next 
place he spoke to me was St. Albans, Vermont, 
where he said he arrived early one mornmg about 
breakfast time and went to a hotel there for 
breakfast. When he was sitting at the table he 
heard several talking about the assassination and 
he inquired, "What was up?" They asked if he 
did not know President Lincoln had been assassi- 
nated. He said, "I do not believe it, because the 
story is too good to be true." On that a gentle- 
man pulled out a newspaper and handed it to him. 
He opened it and saw his own name as one of the 
assassins. He said this unnerved him so much 
that the paper fell out of his hands and he im- 
mediately left the room. As he was going out 
through the house he heard another party say, 
that Surratt must have been or was at the time 
in St. Albans, because such a person (mentioning 
that person's name) had found a handkerchief 



218 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

on the street with Surratt's name on it. He told 
me he actually looked in his pocket and found 
that he had lost his handkerchief. From that 
place he went to Canada and was concealed there 
from April to September. 

There were a great many things he told me 
that I had forgotten, or at least are not fresh in 
my memory. At the time I paid particular attention 
to what he said, and when I first made a deposi- 
tion in Liverpool, everything was fresh in my 
memory. 

The first time I was sure he was Surratt was 
on the day he was talking about his mother hav- 
ing been hung. He did not call her Mrs. Surratt 
or by any other name, but just spoke about his 
mother having been hung; of course I knew well 
enough that there was only one woman that had 
been hung in connection with the assassination 
so I was pretty certain he was her son. He also 
asked me who did I believe he was. I was not 

sure who were the parties that escaped so 

I answered that I believed he was either Surratt 
or Payne. He gave me no reply but only laughed. 

But the last day he was on board he called 
me aside and began to talk of the assassination. 
It was in the evening and we were alone together 
and he took out his revolver which was always 
kept in his pocket, pointed it at the heavens and 
said, "I hope and wish to live just a few years 
more — two will do me — and then I shall go back 
to the United States and I shall serve Andy 
Johnson as Abraham Lincoln has been served." 
I asked him why? "Because he has been the 
cause of my mother being hung." I then said, 
"Now who are you?" I was pretty sure then who 
he was but still he had not given me his name 
himself. He looked around to see whether any 
one was near us and said: "I am Surratt." 

I made this aflfidavit Ser)tember 25th in Liv- 
erpool. Next day would be Wednesday the 26th. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 219 



M**'* „-^ *. Jj-'"? i; 




SCAFFOLD AND EXECUTION OF FOUR CONSPIRATORS. 



"Davy" Herold, Louis Payne, Atzerodt and Mary E. Surratt, 
July, 1865. 



220 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

I told Mr. Wilding, United States Counsel, he would 
b(£ in Liverpool m a day or two. On Wednesday 
the 26th, Surratt came to my boarding house 

but I was absent 

He returned in the evening and wanted me to 
go with him to a place he had been recommended 
to go, but he could not find the place, so I went 
with him. Mr. Wilding, I think had sent a de- 
tective to watch us for I saw a man follow us from 
the time we left my house until I left Surratt 
and he went to that house to which he had been 
recommended. (Oratory of the Holy Cross Church) 
He promised to see me next day but didn't. I 
got a short note stating he intended to go to 
London but when he got to the station there were 
several Americans there and he was afraid of 
being recognized, and did not go any farther. In 
a few days again I saw him and he gave me a 
letter to bring back to the party who had taken 
care of him in Montreal. He expected some mon- 
ey because when he got to I^iverpool he had 
very little money He told me he ex- 
pected a remittance from Washington but it 
would come through his friend in Montreal, and 
that I would very likely be charged with it when I 
returned. 

Testimony of F. L. Smoot, June 2nd. 

(Conversation with Mr. Jos. T. Nott occurred in 
the bar-room of the Surratt Tavern, at Surrattsville 
on April 15th.) 

Mr. Nott said: "He reckoned John was in New 
York by this time." I asked him why he thought so 
and he said, "My God ! John knows all about this mur- 
der. Do you suppose he is going to stay in Washing- 
ton and let them catch him ?" I pretended to be much 
surprised and said, *Is that so?' He replied, "It is, 
by God! I could have told you that this thing was 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 221 

coming to pass six months ago." Then, putting his 
hand on my shoulder, "Keep that in your own skin, 
my boy. Don't mention it; if you do, it will ruin me 
forever-" 

(See Surratt trial) 

Joseph T. Nott was Lloyd's bar-tender at the 
Surratt Tavern. 

General Harris in his "Assassination of Lincoln" 
on page 280, says: 

"Mr. Merrick then went on to meet the argument 
that Surratt bad confessed his guilt by flight, by de- 
claring that the mad passions of the hour and tyranni- 
cal usurpations of the government in its methods of 
dealing v/ith those charged with this crime, by send- 
ing them before a military court instead of a civil 
court for trial, justified him in his flight. He (Mer- 
rick) then went on to vindicate the Catholic church, 
which he claimed had been assailed in this matter. 
The only reference to the Catholic church in connec- 
tion with this trial had been made in the public press. 
The prosecution had carefully abstained from any as- 
sault on that church, and had tried to exclude relig- 
ious prejudices from the minds of the jurors Mr. Mer- 
rick, however, seized the occasion to pass an eulogium 
on that church, in which he showed as much disregard 
for facts of history, as he did for the proven facts 
in this case. Perhaps, he felt this vindication to be 
called for from the fact, that most of the conspirators 
were Catholics in religion, and the further fiact that 
the friends who waited and watched for the return of 
his client, to Montreal, after the assassination, and 
who on his return, spirited him away (priests La Pierre 
and Boucher) and kept him secreted five months, and 
then helped him off to Italy, where he was found in 
the ranks of the Pope's army, and who voluntarily 
came before the court on his trial to testify, and to 
procure testimony in his behalf, were priests of that 
church." 



222 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Continuing, General Harris comments : 

"In his eulogium on that church he forgot to men- 
tion the fact that the pope, during the progress of the 
war, acknowledged the Southern Confederacy, and 
wrote a sympathizing letter to Jefferson Davis, in 
which he called him his dear son, and by implication de- 
nounced President Lincoln as a tyrant. 

"He could have scarcely forgotten that the pope 
of Rome had sought to take advantage of the arduous 
struggle in which our government was engaged for the 
preservation of its life, to establish a Catholic empire 
in Mexico, and had sent Maximilian, a Catholic prince, 
to reign over, at the time, unhappy people, under the 
protection of the arms of France, lent to the further- 
ance of this un-holy purpose, by the last loyal son 
of the church, that ever occupied a throne m Europe." 

"Perhaps, he did not realize that it was God who 
frustated the last grasp of the drowning man at a 
straw that eluded his grasp, by preparing for his 
holiness, the pope, and for Louis Napoleon, just at 
that moment, the Franco-Prussian War, which re- 
sulted in the final loss of his temporal power to the 
pope, and with it, his grip on the world and his em- 
pire and crown, to the last servile supporter of his 
temporal pretensions, — Napoleon IHrd!" 

"To proclaim for that church, as Mr. Merrick did, 
friendship to civil liberty, respect for the rights of con- 
science and of private judgment, and love for our re- 
publican institutions, is to ignore or set at naught, 
all the dogmas of that church on the above questions 
and all the claims of the papacy. Mr. Merrick mani- 
festly thought that the attitude of the Catholic clergy 
toward the assassination of the President could be 
hidden from public view, by his fulsome eulogy." 

"The appeals made by the eminent counsel for 
the prisoner, to the politcal and religious prejudices 
of jurors, was ably seconded, all through the trial by 
the Jesuit priesthood of Washington City and the 
vicinity. It will be recalled by scores of people who 
attended the trial, that not a day passed, but that 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 223 

Some of these were in the court room as the most in- 
terested spectators That they were not idle spectators, 
may be inferred from the fact, that whenever it seemed 
necessary to the prisoner's counsel to find witneses to 
contradict any testimony, that was particularly damag- 
ing to their cause, they were always promptly found, 
and were almost always uniformly Catholics in re- 
ligion, as shown by their own testimony upon cross- 
examination/' 

"It was a remarkable fact also, that these wit- 
nesses were scarcely ever able to come from under 
the fire of Judge Pierrepont's searching cross-exami- 
nation, uncrippled, and also, that when they took the 
risk of bringing two witnesses in rebuttal, of the 
same testimony, their witnesses uniformly killed eacn 
other oflP, before they got through the ordeal, that tests 
the truthfulness of witnessess — cross-examination." 

"Other outside influences were brought to bear on 
the jurors, such as these: Father J. B. Menu, from 
St. Charles College, (Sulpician Monastery) spent the 
day in the courtroom, sitting beside the prisoner all 
day, thus saying to the jury: "You see which side I 
am on.'* A great many of the students from the same 
college also visited the trial, it being vacation, and 
they uniformly took great pains to show their sym- 
pathy with the prisoner by shaking hands with him." 

"The press also was prostituted almost daily by 
publishing cunningly devised paragraphs impugning 
the motives of the government in the prosecution and 
management of the case. Thus were the prejudices of 
the jurors annealed to and efforts also made to per- 
vert public opinion." 

The above from General Harris who was present 
at the trials of Surratt, and who was also one of the 
Military Commission which tried and convicted Mrs. 
Surratt and the other three conspirators, recommend- 
ing the death penalty, and sentences to the Dry 
Tortugas to four others, gives the reader a concise 
picture which correctly photographs the "fine Italian 



224 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

hand" which directed Surratt's attorneys in their line 
of action. Nothing could be clearer. 

And now permit us to quote from the closing ad- 
dress of Judge Pierrepont, which is a masterpiece 
from a legal standpoint and a classic in pure English, 
superb in its logic, impregnable in its TRUTH: 

"May it please your honor, and gentlemen of the 
jury, I have not in the progress of this long and tedi- 
ous case, had the opportunity as yet of addressing to 
you one word. My time has now arrived. Yea, all 
that a man hath, will he give for his life! When the 
book of Job was written, this was true, and it is just 
as true today. A man, in order to save his life, will 
give his property, will give his liberty, will sacrifice 
his good name, and will desert his father, his mother, 
his sister. H6 will lift up his hand before Almighty 
God, and swear that he is innocent of the crime with 
which he is charged. 

He will bring perjury upon his soul, jgiving all 
that he hath in the world, and be ready to take the 
chances and jump the life to come and so far as 
counsel place themselves in the situation of their 
client, and just to the degree that they absorb his 
feelings, his terror and his purposes, just so far will 
counw<iel do the same. 

I am well aware, gentlemen, of the difficulties un- 
der which I labor in addressing you. The other coun- 
sel have all told you, that they know you. and that 
you know them. They know you in social life, ana 
l.hey know you in political affairs. They know your 
sympathies, your habits, your modes of thought, your 
nrejudices, even. They know how to address you, and 
how to awaken your svmpathies, whilst I come before 
you a total stranc^er. There is not a face in those seats 
that I have ever beheld until this trial commenced, 
and yet, I have a kind of feeling pervading me, that 
we are not strangers. 

I feel as though, we had a common origin, a com- 
mon country, and a common religion, and that on many 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 225 

grounds we must have a common sympathy. I feel as 
though, if hereafter, I should meet you in my native 
city, or a foreign land, I should meet you not as strang- 
ers, but as friends. It was not a pleasant thing for me 
to come into this case. They had, perhaps, the right 
to ask, and so asking, I give you the answer. I was 
called into it, at a time ill-suited in every respect. 
I had just taken my seat in the convention called 
for the purpose of forming a new constitution for 
my State, and I was a member of the judiciary com- 
mittee. The convention is now sitting, and I am ab- 
sent, wlhere I ought to be present. I feel however, that 
I had no right to shirk this duty. 

The counsel asked whether I represented the At- 
torney General in this case . . . and so asking. I will 
give my answer. There is no mystery about the matter. 
The District Attorney feeling the magnitude of this 
case, felt that he ought to apply to the Attorney 
General for assistance in the prosecution of it, and 
he accordingly made the application. T have known 
the Attorney General for more than twenty years. 
Our relations have been most friendly, both in social 
and professional point of view. The Attorney General 
conferred with the Secretary of State, who is, as 
you know, from my own State, and they determined 
to ask me to assist in the prosecution of this cause. . . 
This is the way I happened to be engaged in this 
case. ..... 

When the President of the United States was 
assassinated, I was one of the committee sent on by 
the citizens of New York, to attend his funerai. 
When standing, as I did stand, in the East room by 
the side of that coffin, if some citizen svmpathizing 
with the enemies of my country had, because my 
tears were falling in sorrow over the murder of the 
President, there insulted me. and I had at that time 
repelled the insult with insult. I think my fellow cit- 
izens would have said to me, that my act was deserv- 
ing of condemnation; that I had no right m that 
solemn, holy hour, to let my petty passions or my 



226 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

personal resentments disturb the sanctity of the 
scene. To my mind, the sanctity of this trial is far 
above that funeral occasion, solemn and holy as it 
was, and I should forever deem myself disgraced, if 
I should ever allow any passion of mine, or personal 
resentment of any kind, to bring me here into any 
petty quarrel over the murder of the President of the 
TTnited States. I have tried to refrain from anythmg 
like that, and God helping me, I shall so endeavor to 
the end. 

To me, gentlemen, this prisoner at the bar is 
a pure abstraction. I have no feeling toward him 
whatever. I never saw him until I saw him in this 
room, and then it was under circumstances calculated 
to awaken only my sympathy. ... To me he is a 
stranger. Toward him I have no hostility, and I shall 
not utter one word of vituperation against him. 1 
came to try one of the assassins of the President of 
the United States, indicted before you ... so far as 
I am concerned, gentlemen, I believe that what you 
wish to know in this case is the truth. . . . My duty 
is to aid you in coming to a just conclusion. I believe 
that it is your honest desire to find out whether the 
accused was engaged in this plot to overthrow this 
crovernmpnt. nnd assassinate the President the Presi- 
dent of the United States. When this evidence is re- 
viewed, and when it is honestly and fairly presented, 
when passions are laid aside, and when other people 
who have nothing whatever to do with the trial are 
kept out of this case, you will discover that in the 
whole history of jurisprudence, no murder was ever 
Droved with the demonstration wnth which this has 
been proven before you. The facts, the proofs, the cir- 
cumstances, all tend to one point, and all prove the 
case, not only beyond a reasonable doubt, but beyond 
any doubt. 

This has been, as I have already stated, a very 
protracted case. The evidence is scattered. It has come 
in, link by link, and as we could not have witnessees 
here in their order when you might have seen it in 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 227 

its logical bearings, we were obliged to take it as it 
came. I shall not attempt, gentlemen, to convince you 
by bold assertions of my own. I fancy I could make 
them as loudly and as confidently as the counsel for 
the other side, but I am not here for that purpose. 
The counsel are not witnesses in the case. We have 
come here for the purpose of ascertaining whether, 
under the law, and on the evidence presented, this 
man arraigned before you, is guilty as charged. . . . My 
business is to prove to you from the evidence that 
this prisoner is guilty. If I do that, I shall ask your 
verdict. If I do not do that, I shall neither expect nor 
hope for it. 

I listened to the two counsels who have address- 
ed you for several days without one word of interrup- 
tion. I listened to them respectfully and attentively. 
I know their earnestness, and I know the poetry that 
was brought into the case, and the feeling and the 
passion, that was attempted to be excited in your 
breasts, by bringing before you the ghost trailing her 
calico dress and making it rustle against these chairs. 
I have none of these powers which the gentlemen seem 
to possess, nor shall I attempt to invoke them. I have 
come to you for the purpose of proving that this party 
accused here, was engaged in this conspiracy to over- 
throw this government, which conspiracy resulted in 
the death of Abraham Lincoln, by a shot from a pis- 
tol in the hand of John Wilkes Booth. That is all there 
is to be proven in this case. 

I have not come here for the purpose of proving 
that Mrs. Surratt was guilty, or that she was inno- 
cent, and I do not understand why that subject was 
lugged into this case in the mode that it has bj^en; 
nor do I understand why the counsel denounced^ the 
Military Commission which tried her, and thus indi- 
rectly censored in the severest manner, the Presidetnt 
of the United States. The counsel certainly knew, 
when they were talking about that tribunal, and when 
they were thus denouncing it, that President Johnson, 
the President of the United States, ordered it with his 



228 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

own hand; that President Johnson, President of the 
United States, signed the warrant that directed the 
execution; that President Johnson, President of the 
United States, when that record was presented to him, 
laid it before his Cabinet, and that every single mem- 
ber voted to confirm the sentence, and that the Presi- 
dent with his own hand, wrote his confirmation ol 
it. andwith his own hand signed the warrant. I hold 
in my hand the original record, and no other man, as 
it appears from that paper, ordered it. No other one 
has touched this paper; and v/hen it was sug- 
gested by some of the members of the Commission, 
that in consequence of the age, and the sex, of Mrs. 
Surratt, it might possibly be well to change her sen- 
tence to imprisonment for life, he signed the war- 
rant for her death with the paper right before his 
eyes — and there it is (handing it to Mr. Merrick). My 
friend can read it for himself. 

My friends on the other side have undertaken to 
arraign the government of the United States against 
the prisoner. They have talked very loudly and elo- 
quently, about this great government of twenty-five 
or thirty millions of people, being engaged in trying 
to bring to conviction, one poor young man, and have 
treated it as though it was a hostile act, as though 
two parties were litigants before you, the one trying 
to beat the other. 

Is it possible that it has come to this, that, in the 
City of Washington, where the President has been mur- 
dered, that when under the form of law, and before a 
court and jury of twelve men, an investigation is 
made, to ascertain whether the prisoner is guilty of 
this great crime, that the government is to be charged 
as seeking his blood, and its officers as lapping their 
tongues in the blood of the innocent? I quote the lan- 
guage exactly. It is a shocking thing to hear. What is 
the purpose of a government ? What is the business of 
a government? 

According to the gentlemen's notion, when a mur- 
der is committed the government should not do any- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 229 

thing towards ascertaining who perpetrated the mur- 
der, and if the government did undertake to investi- 
gate the matter and endeavor to find out whether the 
man charged with the crime is guilty, or not, . . . tne 
government and all connected with it, must be expected 
to be assailed as ^bloodhounds of the law,' and as 
seeking to 'lap their tongues in the blood of the inno- 
cent/ Is that the business of the government, and is 
it the business of the counsel, under any circumstances, 
thus to charge the government? What is government 
for ? It is instituted for your protection and my protec- 
tion, for the protection of us all. What could we do 
without it ? Tell me, my learned and eloquent counsel 
on the other side, what would you do without govern- 
ment? What would you do in this city? 

Have you ever heard, my dear reader, a more di- 
rect, explicit analysis of Roman Catholic anarchy por- 
trayed than the above presentation of Judge Pierre- 

POnt? y Mi^^ 

There were eighty-five witnesses and ninety-six 
in rebuttal, called by the government and Surratt 
called ninety-eight witnesses in chief and twenty-three 
in rebuttal. 

The hearing began June 17th, 1867, and closed 
July 26th, 1^67. The arguments of the attorneys cov- 
ered twelve days. The case went to the jury August 
7th, three days later. The jury brought in a report 
that they stood about even for conviction and acquit- 
tal, with no prospect of reaching an agreement. Surratt 
was remanded to jail. 

His attorneys asked that he be released on bail 
which was refused by the court. The following Sep- 
tember the case was nolle prosequi. He was then in- 
dicted on the charge of engaging in rebellion. He was 
admitted to bail on this charge in the amount of $20,- 
000, which still stands. 

A second indictment was found against him, but 
the district attorney entered a nolle prosequi on this. 
The prisoner was finally released and permitted to go 



230 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

free on a technicality — an omission of the three woras 
in the indictment, viz. : "Was a fugitive." 

All of the above proceedings in the face of the 
burning facts brought out by his two trials, and that 
every charge of his guilt of the murder of Abraham 
Lincoln was proven beyond the peradventure of a 
doubt. 



Chapter XU. 

Summing It All Up: Two And Two 



The aim of the Jesuits in this country is to ulti- 
mately extricate the Roman Church from its responsi- 
bility in the murder of Lincoln by exonerating Mary 
E. Surra tt and her son John by placing the whole 
blame on John Wilkes Booth — the "Protestant." (?) 

The recent activity in this direction of these Leo- 
poldines, — the Knights of Columbus, — is most signifi- 
cant and interesting to observe. Wide publicity was re- 
cently given through the official press of the Knights 
of Columbus of an offer of five thousand dollars to 
"any one who can prove that John Wilkes Booth was 
a Roman Catholic" is one move in the plan. 

The Surratts must be white-washed before the 
Catholic Church can clear its skirts. The documentary 
evidence pertaining to this tragedy has been so care- 
fully and completely removed from the public eye 
that they feel it safe now to openly refer to the death 
of Lincoln. But for years his name never passed the 
lips of either the priests or the press of Rome! 

With a desire to get at the truth we have made a 
study of these two characters. 

There is much to convince the fair-minded inves- 
tigator that John Wilkes Booth had been a pervert to 
the Roman Church. The evidence in both the trials of 
the conspirators and John H. Surratt shows that Booth 
was frequently at "Mass" in various Roman Churches. 
The fact that he wore an "Agnus Dei" bronze medal 
at the time of his death which was taken from his neck 
by Surpreon General Barnes as his body lay on the Mon- 
tauk which had become corroded from the moisture of 
his body showed long wear. Only three weeks prior to 



232 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

the murder as Rear Admiral Baird tells us, he met 
Booth coming out of a Vesper Service at a Roman 
Church in Washington. This alone of course would not 
be conclusive, but taken together with other evidence 
strengthens the conclusion, that he was not only a pro- 
fessed Romanist, but that he was a devout one. 

The close associates of Booth from his arrival in 
Washington from Montreal the middle of November, 
17th, 1S64, until his flight after the murder, were fana- 
tical Romanists. His first visit the next day after he 
registered at the National Hotel was to the little Ro- 
man Church at St. Mary's near Bryantown. He had at- 
tended "Mass" and presented his credentials to the Ro- 
man Catholics, Drs. Queen and Mudd; was entertained 
by them and enquired for the whereabouts of John Sur- 
ratt on that occasion, whom he met shortly afterwards 
in Washington and became a constant, almost daily, 
visitor at the Surratt home on H street which was 
the meeting place of the Romish priests of Washington 
and vicinity. 

The complete confidence which existed between 
Booth and the Surratts, in the mind of the writer, is 
sufficient evidence that these schemers were taking 
no chances on any "Heretic." The fact that every mem- 
ber of this household was a Romanist, and undoubted- 
ly a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle fur- 
ther confirms this belief. Having absorbed the Jesuit 
psychology during my early girlhood training, and un- 
derstanding the peculiar tie that binds all devout Ro- 
manists together, there is not the slightest doubt in my 
mind that John Booth was not a full-fledsred pape. 

Add to this the fact that Booth himself had taken 
the Jesuitized oath of the Order of the Knights of the 
Golden Circle, given in full in this book, which no hon- 
orable or sincere Protestant's conscience would permit 
him to blacken his soul with, and we have another link 
in the chain of circumstantial evidence He was under 
the influence of the small groun of Confederate leaders 
in Montreal, who in turn were the most abject tools and 
associates of the French priests in that city. Consider- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 233 

ing these and other things we will be justified in con- 
cluding that if John Wilkes Booth was not a professed 
Komanist, he might as well have been and most cer- 
tainly he was nothing else. 

There is no professed Catholic assassm in ail his- 
tory, within the writer's knowledge who was a more ef- 
fectual dupe of the priests of liome and their lay 
agents than this once Drilliant, care free, talented young 
man whose most distinguishing characteristic, barring 
his kindly courtesy, was his reverence and devotion to 
his mother. 

Without wishing to excuse or condone the cruel, 
cowardly act which snatched Abraham Lincoln away 
from us at the moment when his great wisdom, kind- 
liness, and broad charity would have guided the re-con- 
struction as no other could, but the aim is to call at- 
tention to the instigators, higher up — the priests of 
Rome who were accessories both before and after the 
fact, and who have always escaped without even cen- 
sor or suspicion, leaving their tools to pay the price ! 

Booth was chosen for this bloody deed with keen 
discernment and fine discrimination by these ecclesi- 
astical plotters against this government. That he was a 
young man without much depth of character is 
to be conceded, for they do not seek strong 
characters to execute these wicked and dangerous 
deeds. No doubt the Jesuits followed Booth for 
months, studying him, finding his most vulnera- 
ble point, delving into his very soul, before they decid- 
ed to cast on him the leading role. There were many 
advantages in his selection. His profession and the 
well known loyalty of the Booth family to the Gov- 
ernment, placed him almost above suspicion. His knowl- 
edge of changing his appearance, his expertness in the 
use of firearms, horsemanship, fencing, etc., his pro- 
nounced personal magnetism and easy graceful manner 
and above all his childlike vanity without egotism, all 
tended to, from their standpoint make him an ideal vic- 
tim of their subtle influence. One other point. Booth, 
even if he had no previous idea of the responsibility or 



234 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

knowledge of the oath he was to take when he entered 
the Golden .Circle, must have fully realized after, that 
had he failed to carry out instructions after he had 
drawn the fatal blank, it meant his own certain 
death. 

Geniuses are usually so absorbed in the line of 
work in which their gift inclines them, that they are 
often easy victims of stronger designing or unscrupu- 
lous minds, and the dramatic instinct in this unfortu- 
nate young man would tend to make him particularly 
susceptible to the wierd ceremonies, garbs, etc., of 
the Roman Church and its psychology. 

Booth, by several authors, is charged with enter- 
ing this conspiracy of murder and destruction from 
a monetary object. The value of a dollar does not go 
hand in hand with talent nor genius. If so, it is the 
exception to the rule and John Wilkes Booth was not 
an exception. Actors make their money easily and 
quickly and the rule is that they let it go as easily; 
their improvidence is proverbial. I believe it is unjust 
to attribute Booth's part in this affair to a mercenary 
motive and am inclined to think that he very probably 
used much of his own money during his operations. 
The several genuine Oil speculations in which he was 
the loser, shows him to have been short on business 
qualifications and the E Z mark in that respect which 
characterized the member of the profession in his day. 

That John H. Surratt on the contrary, was mer- 
cenary and that money held a high place in his esti- 
mation is plentifully evidenced. He talked about the 
large sums of money he expected to get and repeatedly 
boasted to Weichmann and displayed the large bills 
and twenty dollar gold pieces in his possession while 
carrying on the Secret Service work in his trips be- 
tween Richmond, Washington and Canada He be- 
gan to dress expensively and it was because of his 
ultra-fashionable appearance that the attention of 
the tailor. Reed, was attracted to him on the fatal 
Good Friday as he walked down Pennsylvania Avenue 
from the National Hotel. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 235 

It was his habit to show his money and talk of it 
to his friends in a boastful way. The testimony of 
Ste Marie shows that he was still given to this while 
a member of the Pope's Army. 

The difference in the filial devotion and the lack 
of it is very pronounced between these two young men. 
Surratt's immediate flight to Canada the morning after 
the tragedy at Ford's theatre, where he had directed 
and "called the time," where he remained in safety un- 
der the care of the Roman priests La Pierre and Bouch- 
er, during his mother's arrest, trial, conviction and exe- 
cution; his heartless desertion of his mother and only 
sister, is unparalleled as the most concentrated sel- 
fishness and base ingratitude and the only charitable 
thing to be said, is that it was due greatly to his theo- 
logical training — or it might have been owing to the 
espionage of his priestly "protectors." 

GEN. T. M. HARRIS "NAILS" PRIEST WAL- 
TERS' ATTEMPT TO WHITE-WASH MRS. SUR- 
RATT. 

The review of the Trial of John H. Surratt made 
by Gen. T. M. Harris who was a member of the Mili- 
tary Court Martial which tried and convicted the four 
conspirators and sentenced four others to the Dry 
Tortugas, was written in response to the charges of 
Mrs. Surratt's confessor, the pastor of St. Patrick's 
Roman Church, Washington, D. C, who had dared 
to raise his voice in defense of this woman twenty- 
seven years after her execution. General Harris, whose 
book, the only one of its kind, has so effectually and 
completely "nailed" the ecclesiastical liar, that it has 
been removed from most of the Public Libraries 
throughout the country on account of its contents. Be- 
cause it has gone out of print and because it is not ac- 
cessible to the readers I am incorporating the whole 
chapter on "FATHER WALTER" page 204, for the 
benefit of my readers, below: 



236 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"From the time of the trial of the conspirators by 
a military commission, and of the execution of Mrs Sur- 
ratt by the order of President Johnson, Father Walter, 
a secular priest of Washington City, has made him- 
self conspicuous by his efforts to pervert public opin- 
ion on the result of the trial of the conspirators by the 
Commission. Whilst rebel lawyers, editors and politi- 
cians have boldly assailed the lawfulness of the Commis" 
sion and have denounced it as an unconstitutional tri- 
bunal, and have characterized the trial as a "star 
chamber" trial, as a contrivance for taking human life 
under a mockery of a judicial procedure, with no pur- 
pose of securing the ends of iustice. Father Walter and 
other priests whose sympathies were with the Southern 
Confederacy have earnestly seconded their efforts 
by the invention and circulation of cunningly devised 
falsehoods. 

"Father Walter has every now and then bobbed up 
with the assertion of Mrs. Surratt's entire innocence. 
Knowinjs: that not one in a thousand of our people has 
ever read the testimony on which sb^ was. convicted. 

he feels that he can boldlv assert, "There was not 
enough evidence against her to hang a cat/' He has 
also become bold enough to state as facts what the evi- 
dence shows to be falsehoods. As an example of this: 
In an article in the "Catholic Keview" he asserts in re- 
gard to Mrs. Surratt's trip to Surrattville on the after- 
noon of the dav of the assassination that she had or- 
dered her carriage for the trip, which was purelv on 
private business, on the forenoon of that day, and be- 
fore it was known that the President would go to the 
theatre. Whv, if this was true was it not nroven in ^er 
defense? There was no such testimony produced. The 
testimony on this point against her was that shortly 
after two o'clock on that afternoon she went upstairs 
to Weichmann's room, tanned at the door, and when it 
was opened she said to Mr. Weichmann. "T have iust 
received a letter from Mr. Calvert that makes it neces- 
sarv for me to go to Surrattville todav and see Mr. No- 
they. Would you be so good as to get a conveyance and 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 237 




SURRATT HOUSE, 541 "H" STREET, 
WASHINGTON, D. C, 1865. 



"The Nest where the Egg was hatched." Presi- 
dent Johnson's reply, when he was asked to com- 
mute her sentence to life imprisonment because 
of her age (46) and sex." 



238 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

drive me down? Upon Weichmann*s consenting to do 
so, she handed him a ten dollar bill with which to pro- 
cure a conveyance. Surely, there is no evidence here 
that a carriage had been ordered already, as Weich- 
mann was left free to procure a conveyance where he 
might see fit. 

Weichmann went down stairs, and as he opened 
the front door he saw John Wilkes Booth, who was m 
the act, as it were, of pulling the front door bell. Booth 
entered the house. 

When young Weichmann returned, after having 
procured the buggy, he went up to his own room after 
some necessary articles of clothing, and as he again 
descended the stairs and passed by the parlor doors ha 
observed that Booth was in the parlor conversing 
with Mrs. Surra tt. In a little while Booth came down to 
the front door steps and waved his hand in token of 
adieu to Weichmann, who was standing at the curb. 

When Mrs. Surratt came and was in the act of get- 
ting into the buggy, she remembered she had forgotten 
something, and said, "Wait a moment, until I go and 
get those things of Mr. Booth's." She returned from 
the parlor with a package which was done un in brown 
paper, the contents of which the witness did not see. 
but which was afterwards shown to have been the 
field glass which Booth carried with him in his flight. 
This glass Booth sent to Lloyd by Mrs. Surratt, with 
a message to have it, with the two carbines and two 
bottles of whiskev, where thev would be handy, as thev 
would be called for that night. Llovd swore that fh^^ 
was the message delivered to him by Mrs. Surratt in 
the private interview she sought with him in his back- 
yard on his return home that evening, and that in ac- 
cordance with these instructions he delivered them 
to Booth and Herold about midnieht that night. 

Now, let us see about the private business on 
which she professed to be going, Pud on which php 
claimed at her trial that she went. The letter from Mr. 
Calvert was a demand for money that she owed him, 
and was written at Bladensburg on the 12th of April. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 239 

On the afternoon of the fourteenth she presented her- 
self to Weichmann and claimed that she had just re- 
ceived it. It would seem very strange that it took this 
letter two days to reach her at a distance of only six 
miles. She claimed that she must go and see Mr. Nothey 
who owed her and get money from him to pay her debt 
to Mr. Calvert. Mr. Nothey hved five miles below Sur- 
ra ttsville, and as she claimed that she had just receiv- 
ed Mr. Calvert's letter, it was impossible that she could 
have made any arrangement with Nothey to meet her 
at Surrattsville that day. She did not meet him there, 
neither did she go to his house to see him. When she 
arrived at Surrattsville she took Weichmann into the 
parlor at the hotel and asked him to write a letter for 
her to Mr. Nothey, which he did at her dictation ; and 
this she sent to Mr. Nothey by Mr. Bennett Gwinn, a 
neighbor of his who happened to be passing down. 

Now, in view of all these facts, can any one see how 
her private business was in any way subserved by her 
trip to Surrattsville on that afternoon? She could as 
easily have written to Mr. Nothey from Washington 
as from Surrattsville. A postage stamp, a sheet of pa- 
per and an envelope would have saved her six dollars, 
the cost of her trip, and would have served her busi- 
ness just as well. The truth is that this talk of going on 
private business of her own was all a fabrication, first 
to deceive Mr. Weichmann as to the object of her trip, 
and then to be used, should it become necessary, in her 
defense. We have already seen what her real business 
was. 

Father Walter falsifies again in the article re- 
ferred to saying that she did not see Lloyd on that af- 
ternoon, but delivered the things to his sister-in-law, 
Mrs, Offutt. Both Lloyd and his sister-in-law testified 
to her interview with him in his backyard, and Lloyd 
testified as to what passed between them on that occa- 
sion. 

(See testimony of John M. Lloyd, Trial Conspira- 
tors, PP. 85-86 and Testimony Mrs. E. Offutt and Trial 
of Surratt, P. 281.) 



240 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

It would seem that Father Walter is going on the 
theory that we have gotten so far past the time, and 
that the testimony has been so far forgotten that he 
can foist upon the public any statement that he may 
please to fabricate. We would kindly remind the rever- 
end Father that no ultimate gain can be derived from 
an effort to suppress the truth. Neither can it be ob- 
literated by our prejudices. We may misconstrue facts, 
but we cannot wipe them out by a mere stroke of a 
pen ; and a fact once made can never be recalled. But J 
am not done yet with this Father. He prefaces this 
article in the ''Review'* with the statement that he 
heard Mrs. Surratt's last confession and that whilst his 
priestly vows do not permit him to reveal the secrets 
of the confessional, yet from knowledge in his posses- 
sion he is prepared to assert her entire innocence of this 
most atrocious crime. He means that we shall under- 
stand that were he at liberty to give her last confes- 
sion to the world, he would say that she then and there 
asserted her entire innocence. 

Will Father Walter deny that under the teachings 
of the Roman Catholic church he had an absolute right, 
with her consent, to make her confession public on this 
point? Nay, more, could not Mrs. Surratt have com- 
pelled him to do so in vindication of her good name, 
and of the honor of the church of which she was a 
member? And having this consent, was it not his most 
solemn duty to proclaim her confessed innocence jn 
every public way through the press and even from the 
very steps of the gallows? 

Why was not that confession made public ? 

Why was it not reduced to writing and signed with 
her own hand? 

Why has it not, in its entirety, been given to the 
world ? 

Why must the public wait twenty-seven years, 
and instead of having the full confession, be required 
to content itself, in so great a case, with a mere asser- 
tion from the reverend Father, based on his alleged 
knowledge? Aye, just there^s the rub! 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 241 




JOHN H. SURRATT at 72. 



The above is the last picture taken 
of John H. Surratt who died in Balti- 
more, Md., April 23, 1916, surrounded 
by his wife and grown family. At his 
request he was buried in the Surratt 
lot at Mt. Olivet, Washington, D. C. 
at left side of his mother's grave. He 
was auditor of a large corporation 
until his death. 



242 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

That confession of Mrs. Surratt's would have 
proved very interesting reading, and might have let 
in a flood of light on some of the places that are now 
very dark; it would, indeed, have shown how far Mrs. 
Surratt was involved in the abduction and assassination 
plots and to what degree she was the willing or unwill- 
mg tool of her son, and of John Wilkes Booth, i'iiai 
confession woujd have shown the object of Booth's 
visit to her on the very day and eve of the murder. It 
would have explained what she had in her mind when 
she carried Booth's field glass into the country and 
told Lloyd to have the ''shooting-irons" and two bot- 
tles of whiskey ready on that fatal night of the four- 
teenth of April. And if she did not explain satisfacto- 
rily every item of testimony which bore so heavily 
against her, then her last confession was worth noth- 
ing. 

Father Walter never had at any time Mrs. Sur- 
ratt's consent to make her confession pubhc, and he 
dare not do so now after twenty-seven years have 
elapsed since he shrove his unfortunate penitent. 

Why did Father Walter not do this ? He was inter- 
esting himelf very much in her behalf in trying to get 
her a reprieve ; why did he not use this as an argument 
with the President in her behalf, that in her final con- 
fession she asserted her innocence? Why did he wait 
until the sentence had been confirmed by the Presi- 
dent and a full Cabinet without a dissenting voice, 
and then had been carried into execution, before he 
put into circulation the story of her confessed inno- 
cence? And why does he refer to his priestly vows as 
his excuse for this conduct, when he knows full well 
that having gained Mrs. Surratt's consent to make her 
confession public as an entirety, these vows imposed 
upon him no such restrictions? In vindication of the 
Commission and also the Court of Review — the Presi- 
dent and his Cabinet — we submit that the evidence 
shows her to have been guilty, no matter what she 
might have said, in her final confession. 

Perhaps she had been led to believe that President 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 243 

Lincoln was an execrable tyrant, and that his death 
was no more than that of the ''meanest nigger in the 
army." Her remarks to her daughter the night her 
house was searched indicate the views she took of 
the subject. "Anna, come what will, I am resigned. I 
think that Booth was only an instrument in the hands 
of the Almighty to punish this wicked and licentious 
people." 

To one who could have taken this view of the case. 
Booth's act could not have been regarded as a crime; 
and she who rendered him all the aid she could would 
feel no guilt. They were only co-operating with the Al- 
mighty in the execution of vengeance. On the trial of 
John H. Surratt, Mr. Merrick brought Father Walter 
on the stand and asked him if he heard the last confes- 
sion of Mrs. Surratt, to which the Father answered, 
"I did, I gave her communion on Friday and prepared 
her for death.'* 

Mr. Merrick in his argument before the jury said: 
"I asked him 'Did she tell you as she was marching to 
the scaffold that she was an innocent woman?' I told 
him not to answer that question before I desired him 
to. He nodded his head, but did not answer that ques- 
tion, because he had no right, as the other side od- 
jected." 

Now, what was the object of all this? Mr. Merrick 
brought the Father on to the stand and asked him 
a question that had not the slightest relevancy to any 
issue before that jury. He knew, of course, that the 
prosecution would object, and that the auestion could 
not be answered. It was a direct question and could 
have been answered by "She did," or "She did not." 
Why does not the Father answer at once? He had been 
cautioned not to do so until desired, and so he waits 
for the prosecution to object and estop him from an- 
swerinpT the question. Mr. Merrick, however, in his ar- 
p'um.ent. assumes that the Father stood ready to sav 
that: "She solemnlv declared her innocence to me in 
her last confession," and throws the responsibihty on 
the gther side for not getting this answer. The argu- 



^44 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

ment was this: "You see that Father Walter stbod 
ready to testify to this fact, but the prosecution object- 
ed, and so he could not do it." 

Now, what has become of the Father's priestly 
vows, behind which he has always been hiding? Or 
was all this a mere piece of acting, to give the counsel 
a point from which to denounce the government, the 
Commission, and all who were concerned in visiting 
justice uponjthe assassins? 

We believe it to be true that the laws of his church 
do not forbid him to make public, with her consent or 
command, her last confession on this point, and that 
the Father in making the statements he does at this 
late day is simply practicing slight of hand upon the 
public. It is a very strange circumstance, too, that 
whilst Payne, Arnold, O'Laughlin, Atzerodt, and even 
John H. Surratt, admitted their connection with one or 
the other of the conspiracy plots, Mrs. Surratt has not 
left one word or line after her to explain away the in- 
criminating evidence brought against her. The reason 
is plain; she could not have explained anything without 
involving herself and her son and giving away the 
whole case. 

For twenty-six years Father Walter and his rebel 
coadjutors have kept a paragraph going the rounds of 
the papers, stating as a fact that all the members of 
the Commission, but one, are dead, and that they died 
miserable deaths which marked them as the subiects 
of heaven's vengeance and that some of them perished 
from the violence of their own hands, being crazed 
with remorse. 

The truth is th^t at this writiniBr. Anril. 1??92. all 
the members of the Commission «re alive except Gen- 
eral Hunter and General Ekin. General Hunter lived 
to over four score years and General Ekin to seventy- 
three. The present writer is nearlv seventv-nine and 
is still able to vindicate the truth in the interest of a 
true historv of his Period Is it not hi(rh time that the 
American people should be fully informed as to this 
most important episode in their history, in order that 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 245 

they may not be misled by men who were not the 
friends, but the enemies, of our government in its 
struggle for its preservation and perpetuation." (See 
page 204) 

The above statement of facts is sufficient to refute 
the lying priest Walter and block the Roman Church's 
mad efforts to subvert this damning evidence of 
its own participation in Lincoln's murder. 

OTHER TESTIMONY OF THE SURRATTS' CATH- 

OLIC FRIENDS. 

Testimony of Miss Anna Ward, for the Defense, 
June 3rd. 

I reside at the Catholic Female Seminary on Tenth 
Street, Washington. I have been acquainted with Mrs 
Surratt six or ei^ht years. I have not been very inti- 
mate with Mrs. Surratt. She always bore the charac- 
ter of a perfect lady and a christian, as far as my ac- 
quaintance with her extends. 

I received two letters from John H. Surratt post- 
marked Montreal, Can., for his mother. I received the 
second the day of the assassination. ... I answered 
his letters to me, and left them with his mother as 1 
supposed that she would be glad to hear from him. I 
have not seen him since. (See Conspirators Trial, page 
134.) '^Wl 

This Miss Ward, by the way, was twice brought 
into the trial sufficient participation it might seem to 
involve her in conspiracy. Mr. Weichmann testified 
that in March 1865, Surratt invited him to accompany 
him to the Herndon Hotel to see about securing a 
room. When they arrived Surratt called for the 
housekeeper, a Mrs. May Murray, and asked her to 
have the room in readiness for the man, not mentioning 
the name, whom Miss Ward a few days previous, had 



246 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

spoken to her about. The housekeeper seemed not to 
remember until Surratt further reminded her that it 
was "For a dehcate gentleman" who was to have his 
meals served in his room. With this refreshing she 
remembered. Surratt then told her that the gentle- 
man would occupy the room on the following Monday. 
Later on, Weichmann met Atzerodt coming along 
Seventh Street, who told him in answer to his ques- 
tion as to where he was going, that he was going to 
the Hemdon House. Weichmann then said "Is that 
Payne that is at the Hemdon House?'* Atzerodt ans- 
wered, "Yes." 

Then Miss Ward, this Catholic school teacher, was 
the one who prior to the crime, had been delegated, 
to establish an alibi for John H. Surratt by calling at 
the Surratt house on the day of the assassination with 
a letter which she had purported to have received that 
day from John Surratt in Canada. She proffered this 
information to Lonis Weichmann, who happened to be 
at home. Weichmann did not read the letter which dis- 
appeared and was never introduced into the evidence. 

Surely, it was a fact worth noting from the 
amount of evidence, that Mrs. Surratt. a woman impov- 
erished by the war with no special social standing 
should have had the privilege of intimate acquaintance 
with so many priests. I give below the verbatim testi- 
mony of these reverend gentlemen as the records 
show: 

REV. B. F. WIGET FOR DEFENSE, MAY 25th. 

I am president of Gonzaga College, F Street be- 
tween Tenth and Eleventh. 

It is about ten or eleven years since I became ac- 
quainted with Mrs. Mary E. Surratt. I know her very 
well, and I have always heard everyone speak very 
highly of her character as a lady and as a christian. 
During all this acquaintance nothing has come to my 
knowledge respecting her character that could be 
called un-christian. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 247 

I have a personal knowledge of her character as 
a christian, but not as to her character for loyalty. My 
visits were all short and political affairs were never 
discussed; I was not her pastor. I first became ac- 
quainted with Mrs. Surratt from having her two sons 
with me. I have seen her perhaps once in six weeks. I 
cannot say that I remember hearing her utter a dis- 
loyal sentiment, nor do I remember hearing anyone 
talk about her being notoriously disloyal before her 
arrest. (See page 135.) 

REV. FRANCIS E BOYLE FOR THE DEFENSE, 
MAY 25th. 

I am a Catholic priest. My residence is St. Peter's 
Church. I made the acquaintance of Mrs. Mary E. Sur- 
ratt eight or ten years ago. , . .Have always heard her 
well spoken of as an estimable lady. I do not undertake 
to say what her reputation for loyalty is. (See page 
136.) __^^ 

REV. CHAS. H. STONESTREET, FOR THE DE- 
FENSE, May 26th 

I am pastor of Aloysius Church in this city. I first 
became acquainted with Mrs. Mary E. Surratt twenty 
years ago. I have only seen her occasionally since. At 
the time of his acquaintance there was no question 
question of her loyalty, (page 136.) 

By the bye, on a recent trip which the author took 
through the Jesuit University at Georgetown in the 
cloister of one of the buildings there are a number of 
paintings of Jesuit priests connected with the institu- 
tion, among whom I noted one labeled. Rev. Chas. H. 
Stonestreet. The reverend gentleman testified that at 
the time of his acquaintance there was no question 
about the lady's loyalty. Certainly not. The question of 
loyalty had not arisen twenty years before the war, — 
evidently this is an example of "Mental reservation" of 
a Jesuit priest. All of them could have said: "I never 



248 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

questioned her loyalty. — Mental reservation — (To 
the Holy Mother Church.) 

REV. PETER LANIHAN, DEFENSE, MAY 26. 

I am a Catholic priest. I reside near Beantown, 
Charles County, Md. I have been acquainted with Mrs. 
Surratt, prisoner at the bar, for about thirteen years; 
intimately so, lor about nine years, in my estimation 
she is a good christian woman and highly honorable. 
Have never on any occasion heard her express disloyal 
sentiments. I have been very familiar with her, staying 
at her house, (page 136.) 

In ''The Doctrine of the Jesuits" by Gury, in the 
Eighth Precept of the Decalogue, page 156, 442-1. Is 
it not permitted to make use of the purely and proper- 
ly mental restriction ? 443-2. It is sometimes permitted 
to make use of the restriction largely; that is to say, 
improperly mental ,and also of equivocal words, when 

the meaning of the speaker can be understood 

Besides, the good of society demands that there should 
be a means to lawfully hide a secret; now there is no 
other way than by equivocation or restriction, .... One 
is permitted to use this restriction even under oath. . . 
444: A culprit interrogated judicially, or not lawfully, 
by the judge, may answer that he has done nothing, 
meaning: "About which you have the right to ques- 
tion me." 

The canon law of the Roman church does not con- 
cede the right of any civil authority to question or 
cross-question a priest. Not only so, but the canon 
law of the Roman church automatically excommuni- 
cates any Catholic layman who would bring a priest 
into a civil court. Consequently none of these priests' 
testimony was worth the paper it was written on in 
the matter of truth, and they were at perfect liberty to 
swear to anything they chose, or to whatever would 
seem best for the interest of the prisoner and their 
church. 

Gury in a foot note quotes Bessius, a Jesuit au- 
thority as follows: 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 249 




MONUMENT OF PRJEST JACOB WALTER 



Pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Washington, D. C, friend 
and confessor of Mrs. Surratt, who, as such must have been fully 
cognizant of the woman's knowledge and participation in the 
conspiracy and murder. After Gen. T. M. Harris brought Wal- 
ter to time by his book he ceased to "break into print." 



250 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"If a judge interrogates on an action, which must 
have bpen committed without sin, at least a mortal 
one, the witness and the culprit are not obliged to an- 
swer according to the judge's intention." 

REV. N. D. YOUNG, DEFENSE, MAY 26. 

I am a Catholic priest. I reside at the pastoral 
home of St. Dominick*s church on the Island and Sixth 
Street, Washington City. I became acquainted with 
Mrs. Mary E. Surratt eight or ten years ago. My ac- 
quaintance has not been very intimate. I have occa- 
sionally seen her and visited with her. I had to pass 
her house about once a month, and I generally called 
there, — sometimes stayed an hour. I have heard her 
spoken of with great praise. She never uttered any 
disloyal sentiments to me. 

Certainly the above testimony makes the posi- 
tion of Mrs. Surratt and her church beyond question, 
but to say that any one of these nriests did not know 
that she was DISLOYAL TO THE UNION and enter- 
tained a deep hatred for President Lincoln, to whom 
she, like many others, attributed the loss of her wealth, 
might be acceptable to non-Romanists who do not un- 
derstand the relation of such a woman to her priest, 
but certainly no ex-Romanist could be deceived by it. 

TESTIMONY OF THE REVEREND B. F. WI- 
GET. 

Washington, February 28, 1867. 

Question: State your residence and profession. 

Answer I am connected with the Gonzaga Col- 
lege on F. Street. Washington, between Ninth and 
Tenth. 

Question: How long have you resided in Wash- 
ington ? 

Answer: With an interruption of four months I 
have resided here four years. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 251 

Question: Look at this photo (marked exhibit 
G) and state whether you have known this person 
from whom it was taken. 

Answer: John H. Surratt, I should think. 

Question : Have you known Surratt many years ? 

Answer: Many, many years, yes, sir. I knew 
him when he was about 12 years old. He was one or 
two years under my tuition. 

EXTRACTS FORM THE TESTIMONY OF LOUIS 
J. WEICHMANN. 

Mrs. Surratt and her family are Catholics. John 
H. Surratt is a Cathohc and was a student of divinity 
at the same college as myself. I met the prisoner, Dav- 
id E. Herold at Mrs. Surratt's house on one occasion. 
I also met him when we visited the theatre when Booth 
played Pescara; I met him at Mrs. Surratt's in the 
country in the spring of 1863 when I first made his 
acquaintance. 

I met him (Herold) in the summer of 1864 at the 
Piscataway (Roman Catholic) church. These are the 
only times to my recollection I ever met him. . . .1 gen- 
erally accompanied Mrs. Surratt to church on Sunday 
Surratt never intimated to me nor to anyone else 
to my knowledge that there was a purpose to assas- 
sinate the President. He stated to me in the presence 
of his sister shortly after he made the acquaintance 
of Booth that he was going to Europe on a cotton 
speculation. That three thousand dollars had been ad- 
vanced to him by an elderly gentleman whose name he 
did not mention, residing somewhere in the neighbor- 
hood, that he would go to Liverpool and remain there 
probably two weeks to transact his business; then he 
would go to Nassau and from Nassau to Matamoras, 
Mexico and find his brother Isaac. . . . His character 
at St. Charles College, Maryland, was excellent. On 
leaving college he shed tears and the president ap- 
proaching him told him not to weep, that his conduct 
had been excellent during the three years he had been 
there, and that he would always be remembered by 
those in charge of the institution. . . I had been a com- 



252 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

panion of John H. Surratt for seven years (in answer 
to a question) No, 1 did not consider that i forfeited 
my friendship to nim in mentioning my suspicions to 
Capt. Gieason. He forieited his friendship to me by 
placing me in the position m which I now stand, testi- 
fying against him. I think f was more of a friend to 
him than he was to me. He knew 1 had permitted the 
blockade runner at the house without informing upon 
him, because I was his friend, but I hesitated for three 
days; still when my suspicions of danger to the gov- 
ernment were aroused, I preferred the government to 
John Surratt. My remark to Captain Gieason about the 
possibility of the capture of the President was merely 
a casual remark. He laughed at the idea that such a 
thing could happen in a city guarded as Washington 

was. - . : ; ■■ U!.-;..iit<iaii 

Mr. Weichmann also testified that on the night of 
the arrest he answered the doorbell when the detec- 
tives rang it for the purpose of demanding admittance 
30 that they might search the house. He rapped at Mrs. 
Surratt's door and informed her who was at the door 
and what they had come for. Her answer was: *Tor 
God's sake, let them come in; I have been expecting 
them." (See page 394, Trial of Surratt; also supplemen- 
tal affidavit of L. J. Weichmann.) 

Other comments by Gen. T. H. Harris are as fol- 
lows: 

When they inquired for her son, she said, "He is 
not here; I have not seen him for two weeks." This 
was a sufficient answer, but her guilty conscience 
would not let her stop here, she had to add, * 'There are 
a great many mothers who do not know where their 
sons are.*' Let us ask ourselves at this point, how many 
mothers in Washington City at that hour of that 
eventful night were lying awake expecting their houses 
to be searched by detectives ? Our inner consciousness 
will unerringly dictate the answer, **Not one who was 
innocent of crime/' It is only necessary to say further. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 253 

in regard to this defense set up of an alibi that al- 
though there is no more common defense resorted 
to by criminals, because there is none more easy of es- 
tablishment, there was never perhaps in ail the his- 
tory of jurisprudence a weaker and more unsuccesb- 
ful effort made to establish it, than in this defense. 

Probably no witness had ever been subjected to the 
severe grilling which Louis Weichmann received dur- 
ing these trials, his testimony at Jonn H. Surratt's tri- 
al being precisely the same, and he could not be shak- 
en by the badgering which the defense's lawyers re- 
sorted to. A lifelong persecution followed in conse- 
quence. .... .^ 

During a recent interview the writer had with a 
relative of his who was with him during his last ill- 
ness said : "No one will ever know the sadness of Lou's 
life nor dream of how he was persecuted for simply 
telling the truth. The day before he died he motioned 
for a pencil and paper and before a witness wrote : 'To 
All Lovers of Truth, I, Louis J. Weichmann, being of 
sound mind and memory do declare that everything 
that I testified to at the trials of Mary E. Surratt and 
John H. Surratt, was the truth, the whole truth and 
nothing but the truth, so help me God. (Signed) Louis 
J. Weichmann.' He died the next day." 

The "persecution' ' was that they accused him of 
swearing away the life of an innocent woman who 
had been a kind friend to him. For many years Mr. 
Weichmann was under the protection of the govern- 
ment where he held a public position in Philadelphia. 
He was practically excommunicated from the church 
although he in later years attended. On the other hand 
John H. Surratt, conspirator and assassin was protect- 
ed and helped by the priests up until his death April 
22, 1916. 

After Surratt's release from prison on a techni- 
cality he went to Rockville, Md., where he delivered a 
lecture which he prepared with the ostensible purpose 
of going on the lecture platform. He only delivered it 
once. Tlie public sentiment, even in the South, was 



254 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

strong against him. He then secured a position in the 
pubUc school at Montrose, near Kockville, where he 
taught several years. The writer in making the picture 
of the Surratt house produced here, had a talk with 
the present tenant, a Mrs. Wm. Penn, whose step- 
mother was a pupil of John Surratt's while he taught 
at Montrose. Mrs. Penn has a linen pocket handker- 
chief, hemstitched, with the name ''Surratt" embroid- 
ered in large script letters across the corner of it, 
which her step-mother, a Mrs. A. M. Higgins, was 
given by the owner, John H. Surratt. Some years later 
secured a lucrative position with a Baltimore steam- 
ship company where he remained until just a short 
time before his death. He left a widow and several 
grown children, one of whom, William, is an attor- 
ney in the "Monumental" city. 

On looking up the death notices some months ago 
when the writer was in Baltimore for that purpose, the 
protection of the Catholic church was shown by the in- 
formation that a High Requiem Mass was to be said for 
the deceased and that the funeral would be private, 
interment would be at Bonnie Brae. As a matter of 
fact, the body was brought quietly to Washington and 
buried in the family lot at the left side of his mother. 

The significance of this probably is that some day 
in the future the Roman Catholic church plans to erect 
a memorial to John Surratt and his "Martyred" moth- 
er. In a talk with the superintendent of Mt Olivet cem- 
etery as we stood by the graves, he proffered this infor- 
mation, he being himself a Catholic. "The hanging of 
this woman was one of the greatest crimes ever com- 
mitted. We would erect a monument to her in a min- 
ute, if we could." I asked him why they did not do it. 
He said: "We wouldn't dare now. The feeling for Lin- 
coln is too strong." On pressing the matter further 
with him, I found that he had no personal knowledge of 
the case and knew nothing but what he had been told 
by his church. 

Before closing this chapter I cannot but call your 
attention to God's "Wondrous ways" of just retribu- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 255 




"MRS. SURRATT" 



The small headstone with but two words on it, "Mrs. Sur- 
ratt" which marks the lonely grave in the outskirt of Mt. Olivet. 
Catholic Cemetery, Washington, D. C. That the body lies in 
"consecrated" ground is significant. 



256 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

tion. Contemplate the smell lonely headstone, labeled 
merely; "Mrs. Surratt** on the outskirt of the Ro- 
man Catholic Cemetery in Washington, the scene of 
her wicked work and within a gun shot the magnifi- 
cent white marble Lincoln Memorial as it stands over- 
looking the Potomac river, erected to the memory of 
the great American whom she and her priestly spon- 
sers had tried so energetically to destroy because he 
was the living type of the triumph of Popular Gov- 
ernment and every act of his beautiful, clean, upright 
public life was a stinging rebuke to the tyrannical, 
corrupt System, of which Mary E. Surratt, her son 
and the other papal assassins were legitimate products ! 

EXECUTING THE SECRET TREATY OF VERONA. 

Reverting to the Secret Treaty of Verona, we 
recall that the high contracting parties, on beinsr con- 
vinced that the system of representative government 
is . . . incompatible with monarchial principles . en- 
gaged mutually in the most solemn manner, to use 
all their efforts to put an end to the system of repre- 
sentative government . . . and to prevent it from being 
introduced in those countries where it is not yet 
known. 

Article 2. As it cannot be doubted that the liberty 
of the press is the most powerful means used by the 
pretended supporters of the rights of nations, the 
high contracting parties promise reciprocally to adopt 
all proper measures to suppress it. 

The process of destruction has gone on steadily 
from the assassination of the five presidents in the 
United States, which begun in 1841, and has continued 
at intervals, which finds us without a semblance of 
a free press. 

After sixty years of activity by these foreign 
enemies within our borders what do we find? 

We find a subversion of free speech ; a subversion 
of a free press; we find a denial of the right of the 
American people to peaceable assemblage; we find the 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 257 

complete separation of Church and State the very 
basis of our form of government being a dead letter; 
we find the freedom of conscience being attacked; 
we find our great IDEA of pubhc education being 
viciously undermined and sapped by a great system 
of parochial schools wherein are taught the prin- 
ciples of the old concept of monarchial institutions. 

And by whom is this concerted plan of destruc- 
tion being carried on, principally? 

By the priests and lay members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Upon what authority is this work 
of subversion being operated? By the ex-cathedra 
mandates of the Popes of Rome, conveyed to their 
"subjects" in this country through Encyclical Letters. 
We find that the Roman Catholics who comprise less 
than one sixth of the population, have been the domi- 
nating power in our political affairs and of late years 
have headed almost every national, state and munici- 
pal office from the President down to the Dog Catcher. 

During the Wilson administrations the Army, the 
Navy, the Treasury, the Secret Service, the Post Of- 
fice, the Emergency Fleet, Transports, Printing, Air- 
craft and dozens of others were presided over by 
Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus ! 

The PLUNDERS of Hog Island and the Emer- 
gency Fleet under E. N. Hurley are matters of Con- 
gressional Record which mounted up into the mil- 
Hons. 

Mr. Hurley is a Roman Catholic and Knight of 

Columbus. 

The "Aircraft Scandal" under the supervision of 
John M. Ryan, ardent Roman Catholic and Fourth 
Degree Knight of Columbus ran into the billions and 
was also subject of investigation. 

Admiral Benson who was advanced in a most 
unusual and peculiar way by his sponsor Woodrow 
Wilson is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and 
violated the spirit and the letter of this Republican 
Government by accepting a foreign title from the 
Pope of Rome, Admiral Benson is a member of the 



258 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

"Household" of this alien ruler, who never has ceased 
to claim his right to temporal power for one moment 
since he was forced to relinquish it by the Italian 
People, Sept. 20, 1870. 

This disloyal act has never been rebuked by the 
American people whom Admiral Benson is sup 
posed to represent. "Knighthood" is not a spiritual 
acquisition, nor was it bestowed as such. It is a foreign 
title given in recognition of his service to the Pope 
of Rome who claims temporal sovereignity and allegi- 
ance from his subjects in every country. One of the 
aims of the Knights of Columbus is to restore the 
temporal power of the Pope. 

The presence of these laymen of the Romish 
Church in our public offices is not accidental or in- 
cidental. They are there by the express command of 
their Pope, whom they are obliged to Obey as God 
Himself." (See Leo Ilird Great Encyclicals, nage 192) 

Roman Catholics are serving under a Citizenship 
diametrically opposed to American citizenship. 

American Citizenship is based upon the contention 
that the only authority to rule must come from the 
consent of the governed. 

Roman Catholic citizenship is based upon the 
negation of this. Leo XIH has this to say: 

The sovereignity of the people, however . . . is 
held to reside in the multitude; which is doubtless 
a doctrine exceedingly well calculated to flatter and in- 
flame the many passions, but which lacks all reasonable 
proof, and all power of insuring public safety and 
preserving order, (page 123) 

LIBERTY OF SPEECH AND PRESS 

So too, the libertv of thinking, and of publishing 
whatsoever each one likes, without hindrance ... is 
the fountain head and origin of many evils (page 123) 

The unrestrained freedom of thinking and open- 
ly making known ones thoughts is not inherent in 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 259 

the rights of citizens, and is by no means reckoned 
worthy of favor or support, (page 126) 

We must now consider briefly liberty of speech, 
and liberty of the press. It is hardly necessary to say 
that there can be no such right as this. . . . (page 151) 

If unbridled license of speech and writing be 
granted to all, nothing will remain sacred and in- 
violate, (page 152) 

So you see the Pope denies today the right 
to think. The Romanists of this country are obliged 
to obey and inculcate these treasonable principles. 
It is because of this citizenship that the Roman Church 
has established its gigantic parochial school system. 

ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY THE FREE PRESS 

FITZGERALD BILL (H. R. 6468) 

On December 17, 1915, Roman Catholic Repre- 
sentative John J. Fitzgerald, Knight of Columbus, of 
Greater New York introduced the following Bill: 

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the IMited States of America, in Con- 
gress assembled. That whenever it shall be established 
to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General that 
any person is engaged, or represents himself as en- 
gaged the business of pubhshing any obscene or im- 
moral books, pamphlets, pictures, prints, engravings, 
lithographs, photographs, or other publicatons, matter, 
or thing of an indecent, immoral, or scurrilous charac- 
ter, and if such person shall, in the opinion of the 
Postmaster General, endeavor to use the postoffice 
for the promotion of such business, it is hereby de- 
clared that no letter, packet, parcel, newspaper, book, 
or other things sent or sought to be sent through 
the Postoffice, or by or on behalf, of or to, or on behalf 
of such person, shall be deemed mailable matter, and 
the Postmaster General shall make the necessary rules 
and regulations to exclude such non-mailable matter 
from the mails." 



260 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The Record shows that Holy Names Societies of 
the Roman Catholic Church immediately became active 
and sent to their Representatives many petitions urg- 
inng the enactment of these measures into laws. 

Liberty, then, as we have said, belongs only to 
those who have the gift of reason or intelligence. 
(Leo Xni the Great Encycicles, page 137). 

And the priests claim the right to be the judge 
of those who would have the "Gift of reason or in- 
telligence." 

Roman Catholic citizenship is inimical to Ameri- 
can citizenship. Roman Catholc citizenship is repre- 
sented by the confessional box. American citizenship 
is represented by the BALLOT BOX. 

ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY THE FREE PRESS 

GALLIVAN BILL (H. R. 13778) 

On March 27, 1916, Roman Catholic Representa- 
tive James A. Gallivan of Boston, introduced the fol- 
lowing : 

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States of America, in Congress 
assembled, that the Postmaster General shall make the 
necessary rules and regulations to exclude from the 
mails those publications, the avowed and deliberate 
purpose of which is to attack a recognized religion, 
held by the citizens of the United States or any 
religious order to which citizens of the United States 
belong." 

In January, 1915, Representatives Fitzgerald 
and Gallivan had each introduced a Bill substantially 
identical with the Fitzgerald Bill hereinbefore set out. 
At the hearing on those Bills before the House Com- 
mittee on the Post Office and Post Roads, Roman 
Catholic Representative James P. Maher, of Greater 
New York, stated frankly that the Bills had been in- 
troduced to shield sixteen million Roman Catholics 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 261 

and twenty thousand Roman Catholic priests from 
public criticism, by excluding," The Menace," the ** Yel- 
low Jacket" and similar publications from the mails. 

The above un-American citizens sponsored these 
Bills on the explicit instructions of their Church. 
Leo Xlllth commands them thus: 

Furthermoi^e, it is in general fitting and salutary 
that Cathohcs should extend their efforts beyond this 
restricted sphere (Municipal politics) and give their 
attention to national poHtics, . . While if they hold 
aloof . . this would tend to the injury of the Catholic 
religion, forasmuch, as those would come into power 
who are badly disposed towards the Church, and those 
who are willing to befriend her would be deprived of 
all influence, (page 131) 

These laymen, tools of the Romish Church would 
strangle our Press to prevent criticism of their religion 
and 20,000 bachelor fathers! 

LEO XIU ON LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE 

Another liberty, is widely advocated, namely the 
liberty of conscience. If by this is meant that every 
one may, as he chooses, worship God or not, it is 
sufficently refuted by the arguments already adduced, 
(page 155) 

Hence follows the fatal theory of the need of 
separation of Church and State, (page 148) 

From this teaching, as from its source and prin- 
ciple flows that fatal principle of the separation of 
Church and State, (page 159) 

From what has been said, it follows, that it is 
quite unlawful, to demand, to defend, or to grant un- 
conditional freedom of thought,of speech, of writing, 
or of worship, (page 161 

And now let us see how well the Roman Catho- 
lic Church requires its members to observe and ac- 
cept the above concentrated treason to our POPULAR 
GOVERNMENT. 

The strangulation of a Free Press in this country 



262 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 




HON. JOHN J. FITZGERALD, 
Who introduced one of the postal bills. 



is to be completed through legislation. We call your 
attention to the three Bills which the Knights of 
Columbus have been trying to engineer through for 
the past seven years under the photographs of the 
Pope's Catholic Citizens, Messrs, Fitzgerald and Galli- 
van and the papalized Hebrew, one, Isaac Siegal. 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 263 




HON. JAMES A. GALLIVAN, 
Who introduced two of the postal bills. 



PEACEABLE ASSEMBLAGES DENIED IN THE 
UNITED STATES BY ROMAN CATH- 
OLIC MOB RULE 

That the right of peaceable assemblage is almost 
a thing of the past in this country is proven by the 
numerous mobs instigated and led by the priests and 
Knights of Columbus and their hoodlums m the 
various cities from coast to coast. 



264 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

The reader has seen from the foregoing quota- 
tions from the Great Encyclicals of Leo Xnith that 
the right to think and to speak and liberty of con- 
science is absolutely prohibitive in CATHOLIC citizen- 
ship. In order to prove to you the existence of this 
divine right citizenship; and in order to prove to you 
that the members of the Roman Catholic church can- 
not and do not grant liberty of conscience to Romanists 
who have left the church, I call your attention to the 
following table of mobs and riots carried on by them: 

June 12th, 1913, the Protestant people of Oelwein, 
Iowa, invited Jeremiah J. Crowley, ex-priest and author 
of the "Parochial School; A Curse to the Church and 
a Menace to the Nation," to address them in the theatre 
of that town on the subject of the public school ques- 
tion. At the instigation of the Roman Catholic priest 
of that city who delivered his sermon the Sunday be- 
fore the Crowley lecture, some two thousand Roman- 
ists led by the Knights of Columbus and their hood- 
lums, mobbed Mr. Crowley as he was leaving the 
theatre with some of his friends, and beat him severely. 

April 14th, 1914, the Rev Otis Spurgeon of Iowa, 
who had been called to deliver a course of lectures 
by Protestant Americans at Denver, Colorado, was 
kidnapped from the Pierce Hotel in that city at eight 
o"clock in the evening, bound hand and foot, gagged 
and a strap placed around his neck, whs thrown into 
an automobile, parked in front of the hotel, whisked 
out into the country and beaten into unconsciousness. 
En route his captors told him they were Knights of 
Columbus and repeatedly during the trip when he 
refused to answer or did not answer as they wished, 
he was choked by the strap. ("Strangulation cord") 

The Rev. Spurgeon was finally rescued, taken to 
a hospital where he was found to have sustained in- 
ternal injuries and lay very ill for three weeks. The 
Rev. Spurgeon was a "heretic" and a "Mason." 

On Feb. 4th, 1915, Rev. Wm. Black, ex-priest, 
at that time a Congregational minister, was deliver- 
ing a course of lectures, enroute to the California 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 265 

Coast, where he was to have testified that while he 
was a Roman priest and a Knight of Columbus he had 
taken the Jesuit oath on the Congressional Record . . . 
cited heretofore. The reverend Black had reached Mar- 
shall, Texas, where he was to deliver two lectures. He 
gave his first lecture on the public school question in the 
auditorium of the City Hall at Marshall, Feb, 3rd. 
About five o'clock in the evening on Feb. 4th, Mr. 
Black and his body guard, a Mr. J. A. Hall, ex-soldier 
and expert shot whom he took with him on his trip 
were returning from a walk about the city. On reach- 
ing his door four men standing at the end of the 
corridor nearby approached him. They asked if he 
was Mr. Black and permission to come in and speak 
with him a few minutes. The Rev. Black opened the 
door and invited them in. The visitors first of all in- 
formed him that they were members of the Knights 
of Columbus Council of Marshall; that they under- 
stood that he intended to deliver another lecture 
"against their church" that night. Mr. Black assured 
them that they were correct. Then the spokesman, 
a prominent attorney, Ryan by name, said, "No you 
won't. We will give you just fifteen minutes to pack 
your suitcase and get out of town." Mr. Black coolly 
informed them that he intended to deliver his lecture ; 
that he would relinguish his American constititional 
rights for no man. On rising from a shoeblacking case 
where he had been sitting, John Rogers, a leading 
architect of that vicinity who had drawn up plans of 
the hotel in which they now were, sprang toward him, 
pinioned his arms and in shorter time than it takes to 
tell it. Black's body was riddled with bullets, and in 
the melee John Rogers' body fell across that of Black's, 
being also instantly killed. Copeland, a leading banker 
the third Knight of Columbus, — Catholic citizen — re- 
ceived a wound from which he will never fully recover 
and promptly received the consolations of his church 
in the corridor, outside the room where they carried 
him. It may be of interest to know that the priest 
was in the lobby of the hotel when Black and Hall 



266 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

entered to go to their room. Through political influ- 
ence, these surviving K. C. participants in this coward- 
ly assassination went free. 

April 6th,1915, the Rev Dr. Joseph and Mary 
Slattery, ex-priest and ex-nun, of Boston, Mass. were 
called by Protestant Americans to deliver some lectures 
in Chicago, 111. They were lecturing in a Masonic hall 
on the south side of the city. In the early part of Dr. 
Slattery's talk a mob of Roman Catholic hoodlums 
and members of the Knights of Columbus left their 
hall which was just across the street, entered the 
Slattery meeting and proceeded to start a riot in true 
Roman style, by calling Dr. Slattery "a liar." At a 
signal from a man wearing a Roman collar from which 
he drew a handkerchief which had concealed it, the 
riot started in earnest. Chairs and furniture were 
smashed, men and women were beaten indiscriminately 
and disfigured by the use of brass knucks and black 
jacks. The telephone wires in the hall and even the 
nearby drugstores had been cut and it was fully three- 
quarters of an hour before they had any response from 
the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus policemen. The 
speaker and his wife made a miraculous escape. The 
windows of the automobile in which they were driven 
were shattered by bullets. These Roman thugs entered 
street cars, attacked the passengers who had not been 
at the lecture and knew nothing about the riot. They 
pulled the trolleys off the wires and derailed and de- 
molished several cars. So much for Roman Catholic 
citizenship in the great city of Chicago. 

In Haverhill, Mass., April 4th, 1916, these Knights 
of Columbus and their hoodlums being summoned K)r 
the occasion from neighboring cities and towns, forced 
their way into the City Hall where a meeting was 
being held by Thos. E. Levden, who was speaking 
upon the political activities of the Roman church in 
American politics. I will quote the headlines from 
some of the Massachusetts papers : 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 267 

Boston Post, 

BIG RIOT RAGES IN HAVERHILL 



MANY BEATEN 
MILITIA IS CALLED 



CITY HALL STORMED BY ANGRY MOBS 



WHILE REV. THOS. E. LEYDEN WAS HIDDEN IN 
THE ALDERMAN'S CHAMBER 



10,000 IN WILD HAVERHILL RIOTS— MILITIA 

CALLED OUT TO SUPPRESS MOB THAT 

GETS BEYOND POLICE 



City Hall and Police Station Attacked With Missiles 

Torn from Streets. National Club Wrecked and 

Officer and Civilian Badlv Beaten 



EDITORIAL FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE 
JOURNAL, BOSTON, APRIL 21, 1916 



MOB LAW 

The question of free speech is one of such funda- 
mental importance to humanity that it is easy to un- 
derstand the commotion which has been caused,, in 
the State of Massachusetts, by the recent riots in 
Haverhill. The contention that a mob with or without 
cause, is at liberty to usurp the prerogatives of the 
courts, and to substitute lynch law for official justice, 
constitutes, indeed, a precedent destructive of all popu- 
lar liberty. The history of liberty is very largely the 
effort of authority to restrain license. When the 
human passions are roused license is always apt to 
come to the top. 



268 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

There is no rhyme or reason in the attack of a 
mob. It is just as willing to smash a great invention 
like the spinning- jenny, for fear of the displacement 
of labor, as it is to stuff the mouth of a Foulon witn 
straw. It is just this that makes the case of the mob 
in Haverhill so important. If its action is overlooked, 
if it is connived at, worse still if it is justified today, 
there is no length to which it may not go tomorrow, 
and the example set, in Haverhill, may be repeated 
elsewhere at the expense of the very views which 
the Haverhill exhibition was intended to support. 

The simple fact is that the Haverhill mob out- 
raged in the frankest and most indefensible way the 
common right of free speech. It is not of the slightest 
importance who Mr. Leyden was, what he was going 
to say, or what the effect of his words might be. He 
was entitled to speak, or he was not entitled to speak. If 
he was entitled to speak no mob had any right to pre- 
vent him. If he was not entitled to speak no mob had 
any right to decide the question and to enforce its 
own decision. In each event it outraged entirely the 
rights of free speech, the only difference is that in one 
case it outraged it rather worse than in the other. 



RESOLUTIONS OF BAPTIST MINISTRY 

The Protestant clergy of greater Boston have 
registered their protest against the outraj?e in no un- 
certain tones. Perhaps the most notable of these were 
the resolutions adopted by the Baptist ministers of 
firreater Boston on April 10th. Thev were read by 
Professor F. L. Anderson of Newton Theological Sem- 
inary and were, in part, as follows: 

"The plain, significant and undisputed fact is that 
an American citizen was denied the right of free 
speech, guaranteed by the constitution of Massachu- 
setts, and that the authorities failed to protect him. 
That the mob was the result of a premeditated plan 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 269 

appears clear from the fact that the lecturer was not 
permitted even to begin. 

"We want to know whether this sort of thing is 
to continue, whether it is possible that we are 
entering upon an era of Catholic tyranny in this 
state, whether henceforth in this state criticism of 
one church, and only one, is to be indulged in only 
at the risk of life and limb. We demand of the cardi- 
nal that he pubhcly state his attitude and enforce his 
authority in such a manner as shall make Catholic 
mobs impossible in this state. If the cardinal fails to 
accede to our demand, we shall know how to interpret 
his continued silence and shall act accordingly. 

"We demand that the public authorities bring to 
justice the leaders of the mob and that the courts 
Impose suitable punishment. A failure here will prove 
the constitution and laws of Massachusetts mere 
scraps of paper, and will forever debar our state, 
the nursery of liberty, from criticising those Common- 
wealths where lynching goes unavenged. We say this 
advisedly, for, according to the beliefs of both our 
fathers and ourselves, liberty of speech is more pre- 
cious than life. 

"But more than this is required. The only adequate 
reparation which can be made for this public outrage 
is a public atonement. This, to our mind, should take 
the form of an arrangement with Mr Ley den by the 
citizens of Haverhill, by which he shall speak in 
Haverhill on the topic already advertised, and shall be 
protected in his rights by the city and state at any 
cost. If he then transgresses the laws against slander or 
incendiary speech, let him be proceeded against by due 
process of law." 

PROTESTANT MINISTERS SPEAK 

The entire body of the Protestant clergy of Hav- 
erhill, thirteen in number, appeared before Mayor 
Bartlett and Commissioner Hoyt, on April 7, to pro- 
test against the outrage, the inefficiency of the police 



270 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

and the equally disgraceful failure of the department 
of justice to ferret out, arrest and punish the ring 
leaders of the mob. 

The Rev. Nicholas Van der Pyl acted as spokes- 
man for the ministerial body. In the course of his 
address he thus voiced the sentiments of the unitea 
Protestant ministry of Haverhill: 

'I speak in behalf and by the authority of the 
entire Protestant clergy of the city of Haverhill. 

"We deplore, and we feel indignant about the 
lawlessness which overran this city last Monday night. 
Our city has been disgraced before the country, and 
only the people of this city can remove the disgrace 
which is ours today. 

"We are not bigots. We have the highest charity 
for all who worship God in their own way and according 
to the dictates of their own conscience. 

"But we are also American citizens, and we are 
the accredited representatives of the morals and re- 
ligious interests of this city. We hold inviolable the 
great principles of freedom of speech and freedom 
of the press, subject to the laws of libel and incendiar- 
ism, after the fact, which have been established by 
all the people, and which only the people can abrogate. 

A mob has overrun our city. Churches have been 
broken into and desecrated by that mob. The homes 
of unoffending and innocent citizens have been stoned. 
In some cases lives have been threatened and placed in 
jeopardy. We cannot forget so long as the mob is 
permitted to be victorious, and its leaders glowing in 
the fact that they have trampled under their feet 
the most sacred rights of all our people. We will not 
forget until the principle of free speech has been mi- 
pressively vindicated by the law-abiding element of 
this community itself." 

In point of fact the condition is this, that no 
ex-Romanist now in the field in this conflict in this 
country is granted his or her constitutional rights 
by the priests and prelates of the Roman Cath- 



ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 271 

olic church. There is not an ex-Catholic lecturer 
in the field today who does not take his or her 
life in their own hands every time they appear be- 
fore an audience. Speaking from personal experience 
the writer has had several mobs, one of which was in 
the Pioneer Congregational church in Chicago, Dli- 
nois, where the following subjects were advertised: 

"The Enemy within our borders." 
"The Public vs. Parochial schools." 
"The Suppressed Truth about the Assassination of 
Abraham Lincoln." 

The church early in the evening was surrounded 
by a mob of about 2,000 Catholics some of whom 
forced their way in and filled up the auditorium. After 
listening for about three quarters of an hour, at a 
whistle from the leader of the mob which was the 
signal to begin, windows were broken, chairs were 
smashed, literature torn and scattered all over the hall. 
In response to a riot call from the down town station 
(poUce at that precinct there would not respond) two 
wagon loads of officers stepped out, all of whom but 
one were Knights of Columbus. I know this because 
they admitted it to me. Such wide pubKcity has been 
given by the local and anti-Roman press of K. of C. 
mobs in San Francisco, Sept. 22nd and Sept. 26th, 1921, 
that it is not necessary to dwell on them. 

Only a few weeks ago we read of the mobs of the 
meetings of the Baptist minister, ex-Monk Eli M. 
Erickson in Chicago, 111., who speaks upon his con- 
version from Romanism to Protestantism. But again 
the priests of Rome denied Rev. Erickson his Ameri- 
can rights. This mobbing is not confined to ex-Ro- 
manists. That splendid patriotic worker and eloquent 
lecturer, Wm. Lloyd Clark, of Milan, Illinois, has, in 
spite, of Rome's vicious mobs, time without number, 
held the torch of American patriotism up for the last 
thirty-five years. For the most part he was almost sin- 
gle handed and alone. Mr. Clark has been rotten-egged, 



272 ASSASSINS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

shot at, arrested and jailed, dozens of times, 
but he has never ceased to batter at these assassins 
of Liberty. 

In closing I will leave it to my reader to decide 
whether I have proved my contention in the beginning 
of this book that the assassination of Abraham Lin- 
coln and four other presidents is but a part of the 
great conspiracy which was outlined in the Secret 
Treaty of Verona to destroy this Republic. 

That the execution of this conspiracy in Lincoln's 
case, was delegated by the Pope of Rome to the Jesuits 
in the United States and their lay agents, the Leopol- 
dines. 

That instead of the use of bullets and bayonets, 
their method has been and is to destroy from within 
by the subversion of all of the free institutions upon 
which this Republic is based. 

That the church of Rome has established a sepa- 
rate citizenship to promote its teachings and by its 
enormous wealth a large proportion of which has been 
obtained by unconstitutional and illegal appropriations 
from public funds; that with this wealth (over two 
and a half billion dollars worth of church and other 
religious property, for the most part exempt from 
taxation) it has by a system of intimidation and brib- 
ery corrupted our free press and is in control of every 
avenue of publicity, so that the American people re- 
main in almost total ignorance of its pernicious activi- 
ties, which, if not curbed, will succeed in accomplishing 
its object in these United tates. 

For the further information of the reader, allow 
me to impress it upon you, that the present Pope, 
Pius Xlth, is the Cardinal Ratti, whom the late Pope 
sent to Poland on the express mission of inducing the 
makers of the new constitution to restore the Roman 
church as the State church, a feat which the gentle- 
man covered himself with papal glory, by accomplish- 
ing, an act no doubt, which earned him the Pontifical 
throne. Also rememlaer that Pius XI stands for just 
what all Popes have stood. 



Ifk 






